Squash Returns To Great Pyramid of Giza by Sean Reuthe
photos PSA
June 29, 2016 -
The Professional Squash Association (PSA) have today announced that the
Great Pyramid of Giza - one of the seven wonders of the world - will
once again provide the backdrop for a professional squash tournament
when the 2016 Al Ahram International takes the sport back to its most
iconic location ever for the first time in a decade.
The breathtaking pyramids were the setting for the 2006 World
Championship, providing imagery of one of the most iconic sporting
locations ever, and after an agreement was reached between the PSA,
Egyptian Squash Federation and promoter Amr Mansi [Managing Director of
I Events], the sport's top stars will once again compete in front of
the trio of structures this September, when the tournament gets
underway on September 19-23.
The 16-man draw will see the world's elite compete for a share of a
$100,000 prize fund as part of what promises to be an electric 2016/17
PSA World Tour season.
"We are delighted to have reached an agreement with the Egyptian Squash
Federation and promoter Amr Mansi that will see squash return to one of
the most spectacular settings in world sport in front of the the Great
Pyramid of Giza later this year," said PSA COO Lee Beachill.
"The images captured during the 2006 World Championship, the last time
the sport was played there, continue to set the standard for all other
squash tournaments, and many other sports around the world, to aspire
to and showed the world that squash has an unmatched ability to
showcase the most stunning locations in the world.
"We're very excited to be returning to Giza and look forward to working
with all our partners to ensure that this year's event goes down as one
of the best in history and will be supported with a live television
broadcast that will ensure the most iconic location in the sport is
transmitted into the homes of millions of fans around the world.”
I Events managing director and tournament promoter Amr Mansi said:
“Bringing squash back to the Great Pyramids of Giza has been an
ambition for me over the past few years and the Al Ahram International
Squash Open was the first inspiration to me to start this career of
promoting squash events in Egypt . I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the Egyptian Squash Federation and the PSA for
working together to make the Al Ahram International Squash Open return
once again.
“The Al Ahram International tournaments of the 1990s and early 2000s
inspired an entire generation of Egyptians to take up squash and, with
the country currently dominating at the top of the world rankings, we
believe that this year’s tournament could serve to inspire another
generation of Egyptian superstars
"Eng Khaled Abdel Aziz, the Minister of Youth and Sports, has given us
his full support. He is happy to bring one of the biggest and most
prestigious squash events in the world back to the Pyramids, and is
looking forward to creating such pronounced success in line with the
reputation of Egypt in the international global championships."
Egyptian Squash Federation President Mr Assem Khalifa added: "We are
glad to announce that we will once again be hosting one of the most
distinguished squash events in the world here in Egypt.
"This event is the reason the Egyptians excelled in the sport as the Al
Ahram tournament in the past has shown them that dreams can come true.
We are truly looking forward to bringing this event back and guarantee
to make it an unforgettable one."
