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Squash
United Behind 2016 Olympic Bid
Just
ahead of the IOC Executive Board decision in Berlin on which sports to
recommend to the IOC for inclusion in the Olympic Games from 2016, the
bodies which govern and manage Squash - as well as the sport’s top players -
have reaffirmed their commitment to the bid for Squash to become an Olympic
sport.
The
Professional Squash Association (PSA) and the Women's International
Squash Players' Association (WISPA) - the organisations which run the
professional men’s and women’s tours, respectively - led by the World Squash
Federation (WSF), the sport’s governing body, are all united behind
the campaign.
Natalie Grainger,
the WISPA President who is ranked two in the world, said: "There could be no
greater achievement for Squash than to become an Olympic sport. Squash is
primed and ready to take advantage of such a wonderful opportunity of becoming
part of the Olympic movement. Squash has produced some great athletes, all of
whom are crying out for that sacred moment to compete on the greatest of
sporting stages, hoping for glory - the Olympic Games."
Women's world No1 and Squash 2016 Ambassador Nicol David, the Malaysian
who recently won gold at the World Games, said: "Just having competed
in the World Games has whetted all our appetites for the chance to compete in
the Olympics, the greatest sports event on earth! If we get selected - as we
hope so much that we will - the seven years until 2016 will fly by. I am ready
to start my training programme now!"
Alex Gough, PSA
Chief Executive Officer and a former world No5, added: "Squash is a vast and
ever-growing sport, played by 20 million people in 175 countries. We at the
PSA represent those at the top level of the game, but there is no doubt that
being an Olympic sport would resonate with everyone who plays, especially the
young players across the world who would have something amazing to aim for and
aspire to."
Nick Matthew,
the current men's world No5 and World Games gold medallist, said: "Standing
on the podium at the World Games in Taipei, being presented with the Squash gold
medal, emphasised - even more than before - what it must be like to win a medal
at the Olympic Games. The feeling at a multi-sport games is somehow different
to a normal world ranking event and it would be just amazing if we were included."
WSF
President, N Ramachandran, concluded: "The entire sport of Squash is
united behind the bid for inclusion in the Olympic Games. The professional
tours would change their schedules in Olympic years to ensure that the Olympic
Games would be in its rightful place at the very pinnacle of sporting
achievement possible.
"On
behalf of Squash players the world over, I hope that the IOC sees the potential
of our wonderful sport."
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