Attendance at the 2008
Olympic Games in Beijing has boosted World Squash Federation
President Jahangir Khan's hopes that Squash can make its long-awaited
debut in the Games in 2016.
Squash is one of seven
sports short-listed by the IOC for possible addition to the 2016 Games programme
- the decision for which will be made at the IOC session in Copenhagen in
October 2009.
Joined in Beijing by WSF
Patron HRH Tunku Imran, the President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia
and an IOC Member, and WSF Emeritus President Susie Simcock, who recently
received the New Zealand Olympic Order award after more than a decade of service
with the NZ Olympic Committee, Khan was able to meet and receive feedback and
helpful advice from many IOC members present.
In addition to meeting
senior officials of the Chinese Squash Federation, the party also met with IOC
Sports department representatives to clarify the process leading up to the
selection of sports for the 2016 Olympic programme.
The WSF delegates also met
members of the international press in Beijing, which provided numerous
opportunities to convey the sport's strong credentials for Olympic inclusion.
Furthermore, Jahangir Khan
joined representatives of other 2016 short-listed sports on an "Around the Rings
News Maker" breakfast panel session, which resulted in significant worldwide
publicity for the Squash bid.
"Squash is a truly global
sport - indeed the top six teams in last year's World Men's Championships
covered the five continents - and Olympic success would be the ultimate goal for
all our athletes," said Khan, the record ten-time British Open champion and
six-time World Open champion who is widely regarded as the greatest squash
player of all-time,
"We were most grateful to
the IOC for receiving accreditation to attend the magnificently-hosted Olympics
in Beijing, giving us the chance to observe and enjoy the presentation of the
many excellent sports on the Olympic programme.
"As a result of my
wonderful experience in Beijing, I am committed to working even harder on behalf
of our athletes to convince IOC decision-makers that Squash will add value and
should be included to the Olympic programme in 2016!
"I am more optimistic than
ever before that our Olympic dreams can be realised," added Khan.