Two boxers and four swimmers from Panama are training to earn passes to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the boxers will participate at Guatemala's pre Olympics (April 25-30) and the swimmers at Italy's 2nd Copa Latina (April 23-26).
Amateur boxers Melanio Flores, 27, and Gustavo Caicedo, 26, selected by Panama's Olympic Committee, will try to obtain two of the 23 passes in the last attempt boxers from America will have to attend these Olympics.
Caicedo will compete in the 68 kg category, while Flores will participate in the 81 kg category.
Meanwhile, swimmers Milagros Meneses, Diego castillo, Edgar Crespo and Chistie Bodden will seek their Beijing-2008 passes in Italy's San Marino city against athletes from America and Europe.
Meneses will participate in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle competitions, Bodden in the 50, 100 and 200 meter backstroke, Castillo in the 200 and 400 meter medley and Crespo in the 50, 100 and 200 meter breaststroke.
Meanwhile, Panamanian athletes will be allowed to parade with the Panamanian flag at the Beijing-2008 Olympics since the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) suspension against Panama's Olympic Committee was lifted.
Panama's Olympic Committee stated that Panama may send three representatives in athletics, two in boxing and one each from swimming, fencing and wrestling.
(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2008)