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WILLSTROP: Squash out in the cold at Beijing



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Published Date: 03 June 2008
Like many people around the world this summer I will be interested to see how things pan out in Beijing.
I find it refreshing to be able to turn on the TV at peak time and see a sport like synchronised diving.

I, for one, am sick to death of the predictability of the sports coverage on television and this will be a time when all sports are covered on
terrestrial TV – and quite rightly too.

Although the Olympic regime supports many sports, it doesn't support squash, amongst other deserving activities such as karate and rugby sevens.

I would say the question I am most asked is why isn't squash an Olympic sport?

Well, the answer is that I have no idea. It seems like it's a sport that would fill all the criteria.

It is a true test in that it demands all the aspects of skill and fitness. It is popular, would be easy to stage and many countries worldwide play the sport.

Every other racket sport is on the Olympic list, yet not squash.

Yes, the TV production would need a makeover, but this could be achieved with both resources and effort.

The game hasn't been, and is unlikely to be, tarnished by drugs because of the skill aspect (although I don't want to tempt fate) and so it would add some much-needed stability to an occasion affected by ever-increasing numbers of drug cheats.

The biggest disappointment we had was when squash failed to get into the 2012 London Olympics when the voting was carried out in Singapore in 2005.

Many of us believed we had an extra chance of getting voted on as the sport is so strong in the UK and chances of winning medals would be high.

The annoying thing is that squash players would give everything to compete at an Olympic Games.

I enjoy tennis and I am inspired by Roger Federer but it's fairly clear to see that, looking back over the last few Games, the Olympics is not at the top of the men's priority list.

The same goes for football. Great Britain don't even field a side, so it seems it can't mean that much.

This hurts the squash players because every world player would turn up and play for their lives. Just being there would be a pleasure and a privilege.

It makes me cynical when such rich sports are in the programme and some deserving minority sports aren't.

Perhaps there are reasons for the IOC to include high-profile sports and if this is the case then it is wrong.

I can't say I have ever heard one valid explanation from the governing body saying why squash can't be added to the Olympic programme, especially with so many other sports taking the TV spotlight in beijing this summer.

So I feel bad that my Olympic dream is quite possibly over, as by the next Olympics when squash could be included, in 2016, I will be far too old.

But it is important that we continue to endeavour to put squash where it rightly deserves to be.



The full article contains 528 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 03 June 2008 9:23 AM
  • Source: EP Leeds First & County
  • Location: Leeds
 
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