The IOC Executive Board met today in Lausanne to consider the performance of the 25 sports in the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Board had to decide which sport to select for potential exclusion from the 2020 Olympics. In the event, by a secret ballot having whittled down the 5 candidates for exclusion to one, Wrestling has been nominated for the guillotine. Huge sighs of relief for Taekwondo, Badminton and Modern Pentathlon (and deplorably Hockey - who could have contemplated ditching hockey?) in particular. A secret ballot means that there is little accountability (plus ca change!). The Executive Board is shrouded in secrecy and hardly reflective of the modern world. I doubt that any detailed record or note of the proceedings will emerge. Certainly my last encounter with the IOC Executive Board, when it met to decide to exclude Mu Yen Chu and Murofushi from the Athletes' Commission, producing no minutes and an invisible comprehensive report from a personage who did not grace CAS with her attendance, does not bode well for fairness and accountability.
Wrestling supplied medallists from more countries than Modern Pentathlon had participants. Modern Pentathlon had a significantly less significant TV rating and it is a sport practised in far fewer countries than wrestling's 180. However, and here's the rub, Modern Pentathlon has as its Vice President, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr (sound familiar? Son of a less than gloriuos IOC President) - need I say more?
Wrestling has suffered a huge blow. The influence of India (a country with a significant involvement in the sport) but a negative current relationship with the IOC should not be overlooked. Wrestling can now regroup and attempt to retain its position by its selection as the replacement sport in competition with, inter alia, Squash. The final decision rests with the IOC Session in the Autumn.
The Squash Bid for Olympic Inclusion
In December 2012 the World Squash Federation launched its presentation to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne for inclusion as a Summer Sport in the Olympic Games 2020. This followed an IOC Inspection visit to the Hong Kong Open in December. The event featured an all glass show court with panoramic visibility for spectators located on the spectacular waterfront. The beauty of this court is that it can be relocated to the most fantastic and iconic locations. It has previously surfaced beside the pyramids in Egypt where the sport is hugely popular.
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| Sensational Setting |
The WSF video presentation features Egyptian World Number 1 Ramy Ashour and Malaysian superstar Nicol David, also world ranked 1.
It is well worth a look at here
The Olympic Charter caps the number of Summer Olympic sports at 28. There were 26 sports at London 2012 after the exclusion of baseball and softball following a vote in 2005 (these sports are trying to get back in for 2020). The participating sports have to be decided 7 years in advance of the event and are announced at the same time as the Host City. 2020 is between Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul. Golf and Rugby Sevens were voted into the Olympics in 2009 for 2016 at which point Rio 2016 will have its full compliment of 28 sports.
7 sports including Squash are seeking to gain entry in 2020. The admission of any will require the exclusion of an existing Olympic sport.
In order to qualify for admission into the Olympic Games the sport must have its governing body (International Federation) recognised by the IOC. All its events must be sanctioned by one governing body. The Olympic Charter states that the statutes, practices and activities of the International Federation must be in conformity with the Olympic Charter and this includes the implementation and adoption of the WADA Anti Doping Code.
The sport must be widely practised around the world: the sport must be played by men in 75 countries and 4 continents and by women in 40 countries and 3 continents.
Once recognised by the IOC, the International Federation requires a recommendation from the IOC Olympic Programme Commission and then a decision is made by the IOC Executive Board which must be ratified by an Olympic Session. Squash has already been recognised by the IOC, but failed to gain entrance in 2012 and 2016. 3rd time lucky?
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| Nicol David |
Squash meets the participation criteria. It is played in 185 countries across 5 continents, indeed there have been World Champions from 5 continents. There is a global coaching programme and the sport embraces change and innovation in court technology and in broadcasting. The televised sport is unrecognisable from the days of my youth. The beauty of the glass court is that it could be set up at any location desired by the Host City. Imagine Squash outside Buckingham Palace during London 2012 for instance. In fact it looks absolutely breathtaking. Squash entered a new phase in its destiny with the invention of a glass covering which would allow spectators to see into the court, but would make the players view more opaque enabling them to clearly see the ball within the court without it being lost in the spectator background. Nowadays the 'covering' is built into the glass and accordingly does not require changing. For more on the technology click here. Squash, having learnt from 2 failed Olympic bids, has also introduced under floor lighting, music, referee video review and Hawkeye. In straitened times when the IOC is looking to economise an Olympic Squash event would only require 64 athletes, 20 officials and 2 of those very special glass courts.
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| Hong Kong |
My prediction is that Squash will triumph ultimately, but at the expense of which current Olympic sport?
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