Pacquiao gets China invite to tour plush Olympic venues

Acknowledging Manny Pacquiao's contribution to Asian sports, China has invited the World Boxing Council super featherweight champion to visit some of the venues that will be used for the Beijing Olympics in August.

Pacquiao said in his Philboxing.com column that the Chinese government had sent him an invitation to tour the impressive facilities to be used for the quadrennial Summer Games, with the proposed date of visit set late this month or in the first week of May.

"It's a great honor for me and my family to get such an invitation from the Chinese government because they see me as an Asian who has become a figure and symbol of the whole of Asia in the world of sports, particularly in professional boxing," said Pacquiao.

The boxing superstar is in Cebu to act as Datu Lapu-Lapu in the reenactment of "Kadaugan sa Mactan," which celebrates the defeat of Ferdinand Magellan by the heroic local chieftain.

Pacquiao has been doing light workouts in his hometown Gen. Santos City in preparation for the heavy training he will undergo for his June 28 showdown with WBC lightweight champion David Diaz.

"I am truly considering this (Beijing) invitation and I hope that I can find time to reciprocate this gesture of friendship from one of the most powerful countries and governments in the world," Pacquiao said.

He said he will proceed to Los Angeles if he decides to take up the Chinese invitation so he could start training early under Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao also exhorted Olympic-bound Filipino athletes to do their best in training and during competition.

Whatever the outcome in Beijing, he said, the athletes will still be considered modern Philippine sports heroes.(Salven Lagumbay,INQ.net)