Pacquiao to give P1M for Pinoy gold medal winner

MANILA, Philippines – Reigning World Boxing Council lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao will give P1 million to any Filipino athlete that will bring home the country’s first Olympic gold medal. Pacquiao, who will be the country’s flag bearer when the 2008 Beijing Olympics opens on August 8, said he decided to put up the cash reward so that Filipino athletes would give their all in the quadrennial sporting event. The four-time boxing champion is also confident that Filipino athletes have a strong chance of quenching the country’s thirst for Olympic glory and will win the much-coveted gold medal this year. Pacquiao is also set to leave for Las Vegas this week to personally attend the ongoing negotiations with his upcoming fight with boxing legend Oscar “The Golden Boy" De La Hoya. Aside from Pacquiao, several private groups has also started raising funds that they plan to give to the first Filipino Olympic gold medal winner. – GMANews.TV