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Squash 2020 website:
www.squash2020.com
Peter
Nicol & Tim Garner Boost Olympic Bid With 7 Continent Challenge
Former
internationals Peter Nicol MBE and Tim Garner will contest
7 Squash Matches in 7 Days on 7 Continents in a bid to
help raise the profile of Squash's campaign to join the programme of the
2020 Olympic Games.
The
Xodus 7 Continent Challenge, inspired by legendary British
explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes' Land Rover 7x7x7 (ie. seven
marathons in seven days on seven continents), was conceived by Garner.
The
Xodus 7 Continent Challenge will see the English pair travel more
than 40,000 miles and spend over 70 hours on planes over the course of a
week that will be a test of endurance both mentally and physically.
Crossing squash rackets in each of the destinations the matches will be
the focal point of squash activity on each continent at that time.
"I
wanted to come up with something that would highlight the fantastic bid
that Squash is putting together to join the Olympic Programme in 2020
and got thinking about the 7 Marathons Challenge and how that could be
adopted," said Garner.
"This
will not only hopefully do that, but will also demonstrate the global
universality of the sport.
"It is
fantastic to have someone with the profile of Peter Nicol to
share it with," added the 42-year-old former world No26. "Hopefully we
will start and finish as friends - though I have the feeling we both
intend winning!"
As
well as profiling the Olympic Bid, the Xodus 7 Continent Challenge will
be raising monies for two squash causes: The first is to support
Squash's inclusion in the LV= SOS Kit Aid Scheme, and the second
Natasha's Steps, a trust set up help young squash player Natasha
Drake who is recovering from an idiopathic bleed on her brain.
Xodus 7 Continent Challenge schedule:
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Day 1: |
13th April - Falkland Islands |
'Antarctica' |
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Day 2: |
14th April - Santiago, Chile |
South America |
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Day 3: |
16th April* - Sydney, Australia |
Australia |
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Day 4: |
17th April - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
Asia |
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Day 5: |
18th April - Cairo, Egypt |
Africa |
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Day 6: |
19th April - London, UK |
Europe |
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Day 7: |
20th April - New York |
North America |
(*lose
a day due to international date line)
Nicol,
the former world champion and world number one, said: "When Tim
approached me about the idea I had no hesitation - well, maybe a little
- in saying yes! Through the course of this bid process, Squash has been
demonstrating all of its strengths and why it will be a great addition
to the Olympic Programme and the more people that hear about it the
better."
Xodus
Chief Operating Officer Stephen Swindell added: "As we continue
to grow Xodus globally, it made perfect sense to back the 7 Continent
Challenge - given that it covers all the corners of the world!
"We
are passionate about sport and squash in particular, as it is accessible
to all ages, abilities and in all the countries we operate in. Squash
has many of the attributes that we look for in the business environment,
so are delighted to be able to help with the Olympic Bid process in this
way."
Official website:
www.7ContinentChallenge.com
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