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."