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Like many squash fans you may have wondered before, is squash a Olympic sport?
There are several similar racket sports in the Olympics namely tennis, badminton and table tennis.
There are certainly many more niche sports, such as roller hockey and synchronized swimming.
So is there a place for squash?
Squash is not an Olympic sport and has never been in the history of the Olympics.
The World Squash Federation (WSF) has several failed attempts made to involve the sport.
There are many things to know about the history of the WSF's attempts to squash Olympic status, and I'll take a look at these, as well as the possible reasons why it still hasn't been included in the Olympics.
Squash is not an Olympic sport
Squash is certainly no different than golf, tennis or even fencing which have all been Olympic sports historically.
The question then is why squash is always excluded from the largest sporting showpiece in the world.
Squash has failed to convince the people of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) three times already, and there is as yet no indication that the hosts of the Summer Games will change their view of Paris in 2024.
However, anger and frustration will only get you so far in life. At some point, there has to be a certain amount of introspection.
The squash association must wonder why it is still banned from the Olympics.
There needs to be a firmer understanding of what the IOC is trying to achieve under the leadership of Thomas Bach, the current president of the sports board.
Interesting fact is that Bach himself was an Olympic fencer. A gold medalist even.
Furthermore, Bach is a lawyer by profession and a reformer. That's something more important to note than his screen background.
Now we can all bury our heads in the sand and pretend the world isn't moving, albeit at a painfully slow pace, or we can accept that tradition is useful as it adapts to a changing world.
A world that is mainly commercially driven.
And there is also the question of whether squash fits into that vision.
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Squash for Paris 2024
One of the campaign posters for the bid Squash Goes For Gold for Paris 2024 shows Camille Serme and Gregory Gaultier.
Both players are clearly French, which is an important detail:
However, both players are also shadows of the players they once were and both are in their thirties.
Gaultier is actually approaching 40 already. That should be your first clue there.
The organizers of Paris 2024 have always made it clear that they want to include sports that appeal to young people in France.
There are two aspects to this that are intertwined.
- There is a commercial aspect, which we briefly covered earlier in this segment,
- but there is also a desire to give legitimacy to the Olympics. Both go hand in hand.
The World Squash Federation has always been keen that the sport's governing body has taken huge strides in capturing young people's imaginations that squash is innovative.
While there's no doubt that squash is in better health than ever, thanks in part to the massive efforts of figures like PSA CEO Alex Gough and WSF president Jacques Fontaine.
However, the reality is that squash faces very stiff competition from hipper sports, most of which are not traditional sports like squash, which have captured the imagination of young people over the past two decades.
So, while squash efforts have been commendable, we're not sure it's been enough to keep the attention of young people consistently finding other ways to keep themselves entertained.
As most people know by now, squash has already been beaten by breakdance before Paris 2024.
Breakdance, better known as breaking, has been added to the shortlist ahead of the IOC session in June.
Like it or not, this is where the world is going. Breaking, already seen during the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, was particularly popular and most would say very successful.
When those final tradeoffs are made, squash competes alongside, and perhaps against:
- klimmen
- skateboarding
- and surfing
The reality is, and nobody likes to talk about it, squash is still seen by many around the world as the sport of the elite.
In most emerging markets, squash is the sport played by the country club crowd.
One of those emerging markets is Nigeria, a country of about 200 million inhabitants.
I can say with great certainty that your chances of finding a break dancer are far greater than those of a squash enthusiast or even a squash court.
An important consideration for the IOC is that of a sport that will appeal to young people in Paris 2024.
The youth of Paris is more culturally diverse than most societies in the western world.
Why squash should be an Olympic sport
- Squash is relevant today as the healthiest and most exciting sport in the world. Forbes Magazine concluded that squash was the world's healthiest sport after a 2007 survey. Squash doesn't take very long to play, but players burn a lot of calories while playing, so it's great for young people today who want to get fit in the shortest time. possible time time. At the top level, squash is extremely athletic and exciting to watch, live and on TV.
- Squash is a popular, accessible sport played all over the world. Squash is played by more than 175 million people in 20 countries. Every continent contains recreational players and professionals. It is played by men and women, young and old. It's easy to get started and the cost of equipment is low. There are courses all over the world and it's easy to just go to a club and play a game.
- The game is well organized to take advantage of inclusion in the Olympics. Both the PSA and WISPA run thriving World Tours in which top players compete. The WSF runs World Championships and these are fully integrated into the World Tours. All three organizations are 100% behind the bid for inclusion in the Olympic program and are fully prepared to take advantage of the increase in awareness and participation that will benefit the game, and the Games in general.
- An Olympic medal is the sport's highest honor. Every elite player agrees that the Olympics would take the sport to another level and the Olympic champion of Squash is a title that every player wants.
- The elite athletes of Squash are sure to compete. The world's top men and women have all signed a pledge to compete in the Olympics. They will be supported in this by their national federations, the WSF and PSA or WISPA.
- Squash could take the Olympics to new markets. Squash features world-class athletes from countries that traditionally do not produce Olympians. Including squash in the Olympics will raise awareness of the Olympic movement in these countries, and will also promote better funding for the development of the sport.
- The impact of squash on the Olympics will be great, the costs low. Squash is a portable sport: a court requires minimal space and can be set up almost anywhere. Squash tournaments are held in many iconic locations around the world, drawing players and non-players alike to the sport. This makes squash an ideal sport for presenting the host city. Also, local squash clubs in the host city will be used for training, so squash can be organized without any investment in permanent facilities or infrastructure.
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