World Squash Federation Welcomes International Olympic Committee Sport Shortlist Decision for 2020 Games from WSF Media 29 May, St Petersburg, Russia:
The World Squash Federation today welcomed the decision by the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board to shortlist
Squash as a potential sport to join the Olympic Programme for the 2020
Olympic Games. The IOC Executive Board, which comprises 15 IOC members
including President Jacques Rogge, made its decision after receiving
presentations from eight sports.
The Squash presentation team included seven-time women's world champion
and world number one Nicol David, and Ramy Ashour, men's world champion
and world number one. Three films - which can be viewed at
www.worldsquash.org/ws/?page_id=11686 - were shown in the Squash
presentation, including a newly-commissioned film which captures the
broadcast innovations the sport has introduced in the last few years.
World Squash Federation President N Ramachandran, who led Squash's
presentation team, said: "This is a huge milestone in our quest to join
the Olympic Programme and I would like to thank the Executive Board for
the faith it has placed in Squash. It was fantastic to have the women's
and men's world number ones on our presentation team, and Nicol and
Ramy were passionate about what it would mean to them to have the
chance to compete in the Olympic Games. It was also important that our
presentation communicated the scale and breadth of innovations that
Squash has introduced over the last few years, in particular in key
areas such as broadcasting, and I believe we did that.
Malaysia's Nicol David, seven-time World Champion, said: "This is a
great day for Squash as it takes us one step closer to realising our
long held ambition to join the Olympic Games. I said to the Executive
Board that the one big regret in my career is that I have never had the
chance to compete in the Olympic Games, but I would happily trade all
my seven world titles for the chance of Olympic Gold. Hopefully that
showed what competing in the Games means to me. It was a true honour to
play a part in our presentation and I will do everything I can as we
head towards Buenos Aires to help our campaign."
Egypt's Ramy Ashour, Men's World Number one, added: "It was great for
Nicol and me to be part of the presentation team and to represent the
Men's and Women's professional Squash Tours. I think this was an
important message to the IOC Executive Board as it shows what competing
in the Games would mean to us and every single player on the tours.
Being part of our presentation has fuelled even more my dream to
compete in the Olympic Games, and I really do pray that this journey
leads me to the Olympic Games in 2020, where I can make my country
proud and win Gold for Egypt."
President Ramachandran concluded: "Squash would grow all over the world
with the Olympic Movement. We are a growing, global sport played in 185
countries by millions across the world. We offer the genuine prospect
of new nations on the medal podium. We would be easy and low cost to
integrate into the Olympic Games with just 64 athletes, two competition
courts that can be built in days and we have a great track record of
being hosted in iconic locations. I think all these elements were
important considerations for the IOC Executive Board. It is critical
now that we build further momentum and support ahead of the IOC member
vote in Buenos Aires on September 8, and this is what the global Squash
family is completely focussed on."
