05-Jun-04:
Squash Bids for the
2012 Olympic Games
The International Olympic Committee confirmed in April
2004 that there would be no changes to the programme
for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing 2008.
Several sports were under intense scrutiny but the
final decision is not that none would be eliminated
and, therefore, no new sports will be admitted. The
only possible way a vacancy can occur is if one of the
current sports refused to sign up to the WADA
Anti-Doping agreement or were found to have a criminal
background – both unlikely scenarios. So the next
chance for Squash and all other sports bidding to be
part of the Olympic Programme will be the 2012 Games.
The (IOC) made an extremely important announcement on
8th April 2004 concerning the forward plans for
deciding which sports will be on the programme of the
Olympic Games in 2012. After the Athens Olympics of
2004, the IOC Olympic Programme Commission will start
a process of evaluation of all the sports currently on
the programme and, most importantly for Squash, a
“certain number of recognised International
Federations”. We hope and believe that Squash will be
one of a small number of Recognised Sports selected
for this review.
After Athens, the selected sports will be asked by the
IOC to complete a questionnaire that covers a sport’s
history and tradition, popularity, universality,
image, athlete’s health, presentation, development and
cost, which must be submitted by 10 November 2004. The
Commission will evaluate the responses to these
questionnaires and present the findings to the IOC
Executive Board in April 2005. The decisions they make
will form the basis of a recommendation on the
programme for 2012, to be approved by the IOC Session
in Singapore in June 2005.
This objective appraisal of the Olympic programme is
good news for Squash. We will be working closely with
the IOC, through the excellent communication channel
of our Emeritus President Susie Simcock, to ensure
that Squash is presented in the most favourable light.
In the meanwhile, WSF Member Nations, particularly
those with cities bidding for the Olympic Games in
2012, should make every effort to encourage their
National Olympic Committee to recommend the inclusion
of Squash on the 2012 programme.
Every Squash player in the world has a part to play in
this process. If you write to your national IOC member
and to your National Olympic Committee putting forward
the case for Squash to be included in 2012 it will be
another step forward in the campaign for our sport to
take its rightful place in the Olympics and for our
top players to have the joy and privilege of appearing
on the most prestigious sporting stage in the world. |
GOLF & RUGBY BEAT SQUASH TO BEIJING
SQUASH MISSES THE OLYMPIC GAMES,
BEIJING 2008
|
