The World Squash Federation (WSF) tonight welcomed the news that Squash has been included on the shortlist of sports to be considered for inclusion in the Olympic Sports Programme starting in 2020.
WSF President N Ramachandran, upon hearing the news, said today: “We are delighted to be given this new opportunity to be considered for inclusion in the Olympic Sports Programme. I am confident that we will be able to show the IOC Programme Commission, the Executive Board and wider IOC membership that our case has become even stronger over recent years.
“I truly believe that Squash would be a great Olympic sport. It fulfils all the criteria for inclusion in the Games, has proven universality and growth and we have an absolute commitment from all our top athletes that an Olympic medal would be the pinnacle of their careers. We also have high-profile world champions, exciting world championships for men and women, massive participation from juniors to masters on all continents and a healthy, thriving programme of youth development worldwide.
“Squash has benefitted from some incredibly exciting technical innovations in recent years, including dramatic glass flooring, courts that can be sited in iconic settings such as the Pyramids and New York’s Grand Central Station, vastly-improved television coverage in HD with multiple camera positions, and ‘super slow-mo’ replays. We are not a sport that stands still. All this and the fact that Squash is a wonderful example of one-on-one sporting gladiatorial competition, would make it a perfect addition to the Games.
“Our campaign starts with new energy and vigour as of today and I am delighted that we will have an opportunity to take our message to the whole Olympic and sporting family over the next two years.”
From the IOC announcement: “The EB also agreed on a shortlist of sports that will be considered for inclusion in the sports programme of the 2020 Olympiad. The sports are: baseball, karate, roller sports, softball, sports climbing, squash, wakeboard and wushu, one of which could be added to the 2020 sports programme to be voted on by the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires in 2013. The programme can include a maximum of 28 sports.”
I am an old fashioned sports nut that truly believes the ideals of the Olympic spirit.
The Olympics were basically for Gladiators and long distance runners.
I do NOT get any enjoyment out of the team sports that have slowly eroded the ideals of the modern Olympics.
We see enough of football, rugby, and other team sports in their respective seasons.
Squash to me is like two Gladiators going at it for the duration of the match and is the perfect sport for the Olympics.
You need to reintroduce the International/English scoring system to ensure that a marathon match with skill, strength and stamina be on display!
You could end up with a one sided Final that only lasts twenty minutes and that would be the end of the Squash Olympics!!
This is absolutely great news. Let’s all work tireless and make it happen. This time around it truly could work !
THAIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS FOR SQUASH
ZULFIQAR BAIG
SQUASH JOURNALSIT
EXPRESS
PAKISTAN