The world of squash is uniting to support the sport’s bid for
inclusion in the 2016 Olympic programme with a massive worldwide
festival on May 23rd.
The popular World Squash Day is being re-branded as Squash
2016 Day as National Federations all over the globe organise a
massive programme of events.
Every squash club on the planet is being urged to throw open its
doors to promote the sport and help the Olympic bid.
Squash 2016 Bid Team Member and former world champion Peter Nicol
said:
“Our ultimate aim is for every club in the world to open their doors
on this one special day, to show people what a fantastic sport we
have, to get media and personalities involved, and encourage new
participants to take up the game.
“Squash 2016 Day is free to join
and we look forward to seeing a massive response, with clubs and
federations employing their creative powers to organise a fantastic
global festival of this brilliant game.”
The event is endorsed by the World Squash Federation - and World
Squash Day founder Alan Thatcher said: “This gives every
squash club the opportunity to raise the profile of the sport - the
Olympic bid is an ambitious project which, if successful, will give
squash a deserved place in the Olympic Games."
Squash is played in 175 countries by
more than 20 million people - men and women, young and old. Every
player agrees that the Olympic Games would take the sport to a
different level. Indeed, the world’s top men and women have all
signed a pledge that they would compete in the Olympics. The Olympic
Champion of Squash is a title that every player wants.
Furthermore, Squash can take the Olympic Games into new markets:
Squash has world-class athletes from countries that do not
traditionally produce Olympians. Thus, including squash in the
Olympic Games will boost awareness of the Olympic Movement in these
countries, and will also promote better funding for the development
of the sport.
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