In the past week, the major Squash governing bodies launched a bid to get the sport into the 2024 Olympic Games.
Appropriately, the initiative is called Squash Goes Gold and has got the backing of a number of partners to get the sport into the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, France.
Checkout this 2024 Olympic Bid video:
Credit: Squash Australia (courtesy of World Squash Library)
Building upon Youth Olympic showcase
Following on from the success of a showcase event at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina – showed the popularity of the sport among the youth aligned with technological innovations of the sport.
The promotional video illustrates how diverse Squash is, especially with new ‘top end’ tournaments in locations such as Lagos in Nigeria and big money tournaments in Chicago, USA.
Squash popular than other national sports
We noticed in past few years that in countries such as Jamaica, Brunei, and even India – Squash rapidly becoming more popular than the sports that the countries are famed for.
For instance, Jamaica took part in the Men’s World Squash Championship in 2017, as a result, the governing body attracted backing from major corporations to enhance grassroots development.
In addition, there have social contributions to sport; notably, International Women’s Day – a day that is good for acknowledging the success of female Squash players past and present.
Squash community unites
Overall, as part of the Squash community, we are getting behind this bid and have a gut feeling that Squash is going to FINALLY receive its inclusion finally into the Olympics Games.
Let’s not forget, that there is a Paralympic side to Squash too. Previously Squash was bidding for inclusion in the Paralympic Olympics Games – now should automatically happen.
Upon inclusion in the Olympics, not only can they improve grassroots development but support the development of more Squash courts being dissolved.
Final Thoughts
The campaigning to get Squash into the Olympics could drag on for years, however, we reckon something major is going to happen to make Squash a part of the greatest sporting event of all time.
This could be a variety of things, notably a lot more community engagement and increased diversity amongst participants.
It is important to Squash is the healthiest sport in the world and it is high time this be the marketing point to the IOC.
Hence, the Commonwealth Games in 2022 is going to be crucial in making a bold statement on how Squash needs to be a part of the Olympic Games and most importantly can transform communities too like other sports, especially Squash’s racquet cousins.
When it comes to Squash venues, whether they operate in the private, public, or not-for-profit sector – must unite to increase Squash participation like no other sport.
This could be sharing resources or helping showcase talent, either way, it helps strengthen the local economy in terms of jobs.
For more details about the Squash Goes Gold campaign visit the World Squash Federation website.
