IOC Decision Welcomed by Squash NZ

Squash NZ has joined the global squash community in welcoming the short listing of squash for the 2020 Olympics.

The sport is one of three that has been put forward for futher consideration, after presenting their cases to the 15-strong board, which includes IOC President Jacques Rogge.  The other two sports are wrestling and baseball/softball.

Squash put its best foot forward for the presentation, with men's and women's world champions Ramy Ashour and Nicol David joining World Squash Federation President N Ramachandran, Secretary General George Mieras and CEO Andrew Shelley to argue the sport's case.  The presentation included three films, including a newly commissioned film which captures the broadcast innovations the sport has introduced in the last few years.

Squash New Zealand Jim O'Grady says there is an enormous level of support for squash to be included in the Games, having narrowly missed out in voting in both 2005 and 2009.  He says it's fantastic that the Executive Board has placed its faith in squash by placing it in the short list.  However, he says that doesn't mean the squash fraternity can now relax.

"There is still a lot of work to be done.  We have been here twice before and know there is a fine line between success and failure at the next stage so we must continue to garner as much support as possible."

Squash has run a global campaign urging support for its cause, with many of the world's top athletes from a variety of codes happily "backing the bid".  In New Zealand, rugby stars Sir John Kirwan, Josh Kronfeld, Keven Mealamu and Justin Marshall have all added their names to the cause, as have popular league personality the Mad Butcher and advertising stars the Tui girls. Thousands of avid squash players up and down the country who want to see squash in the Olympics have also rallied to the cause.

A final decision on which sport will join the 2020 Olympic Games will be taken by the full IOC membership at its session in Buenos Aires on September 8th.