Olympic Decision Day

[stevecubs]

Well, I was on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning, with 60-seconds to give a pitch for squash, along with reps from the other six sports.

It won't make any difference, as the IOC were already in their meeting by then, but I think it went ok (pitch below).

I'm lined up to be back on at 16.30, by which time we should know the answer ... I hope I get a chance to be happy ...


**********

Well, for us squash players, squash is just such a glaring omission from the Olympics. It's in every other multi-sport games - Commonwealth, Pan American, Asian - and after every Olympics non-squash players always ask us how we did in the Olympics, and we have to say "we didn't, we're not in," it's just ridiculous.

It's a great sport, it's fast, skilful, athletic, a great workout and it's popular all over the world with 200 countries and 20 million people playing.

The professional circuit is really good, with tournaments in spectacular settings like Grand Central Station in NY, in front of the Pyramids in Cairo, the harbour front in Hong Kong ... and for squash players the Olympics would be the ultimate, every player's dream.

It you started from scratch and had to find 28 sports that met the Olympic ideal, no-one can tell me that squash wouldn't make that list.

We came so close to getting in last time, we were on the program for 2012, so this time I'm asking the IOC ... get it right.

********

[scotsexile]

Well done Steve - difficult to convey a reasoned argument in such a short time - all you can do is get a couple of key points across for a soundbite - good effort

[Adam Hildred]

We should absolutely walk this, if the IOC members in charge have any remote understanding of sport and Olympic spirit. I mean, golf in the Olympics? Give me strength.

[passthestripe]

Golf and Rugby? Surely not.

[scotsexile]

Golf and Rugby? Surely not.

Thats what the BBC are saying - we can only hope that the delay in the announcement is to our benefit

[stevecubs]

It's true, Golf and Rugby.

[Adam Hildred]

Complete joke. Enough said.

[greenball]

all down to money.....the ioc are a total joke!!!

[getmeinahalfpipe]

Kind of lost for words, such a farce, really.

[weiran]

I can understand wanting to have Golf in to attract an older audience (money), but not instead of squash!

There are so many minor sports in the Olympics now that the omission of squash just seems more and more confusing. Smaller version of rugby that won't attract all the top players? Beach volleyball? BMX (about 20 years too late when everyone's moved to mountain bikes)? Westling? Handball? The list goes on...

[eternity]

ridiculous, but sadly as expected.
It's not exactly a new thing that money is more important then integrity.

[Squasher88]

The IOC has made a clear statement, they don't want us. They gave us hope the last time around and rejected us and now they rejected us again. What do we possibly do now?? This is so heartbreaking

[seshadri]

Terrible news, but not the end of the world.
There are enough competitions around the world that allows a squash player to compete for his country against the best.
Were any reasons given why squash lost out? And that too to a game like golf?

[Squashbuckler]

Not surprised at all.

Although I believe squash should be in the Olympics - more than a lot of the sports already there - the IOC have one thing one their agenda - ratings. Ratings bring in sponsors, sponsors bring in money. Squash does not even record a blip on their radar in these terms.

Squash should drop this as one of it's endeavors. Too much time and effort is put into a goal that the IOC has clearly indicated is unattainable for squash. The same effort should be put back into grass roots building of the sport and grow the popularity through getting backsides on courts, not by Olympic medals.

[stevecubs]

"In the end, the decision came down to which two would add the most value,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge

[UnsolvedMysteries]

This is completely absurd, I'm officially boycotting the Olympics post Vancouver (I'm Canadian). Are they seriously that blinded and desperate for money that they've forgotten what the Olympics are about? There are so many Olympic events that can raise debate whether they're considered sports at all. Riding a horse over barriers? Archery?? Sailing? If you aren't out of breath and sweating and pushing yourself mentally and physically then it is clearly not a sport - seems the IOC have completely forgotten the history and origins of the game. It was a time when all wars stopped and everyone came together to watch incredible displays of mental and physical strength. Money, ratings, politics, should all be secondary issues compared to keeping integrity. My words are here are lost, but these ideas are not. The ideas win in the end. They made a huge mistake here, and it will cost them one day. I agree that squash should not spend any more time gunning for the Olympic bid because it is time and resources wasted on fools that only listen when money is talking.

[tammer]

Seriously? Golf?......so who's next on the list? Super Mario Brothers? This is devastating news for all squash goers, but the bottom line is that the Olympic committee is clearly looking for sports that generate the most revenue. And when it comes to that, Golf and Rugby are far superior to Squash. Additionally, it's pretty clear that America has a pretty significant amount of influence on the decisions made by the Olympic committee so unless we can reach out to a much broader audience there then we might as well just stop all the whining. I woked in Manhattan for quite some time and nobody at my office ever knew about a tournament being played at Grand Central Terminal let alone the game of squash itself!....I am truly awe struck!

[Squashandy]

"In the end, the decision came down to which two would add the most value,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge

For Value, read "money"

[squashgroupie]

WSF and Governing bodies ( PSA and formerly ISPA & Wispa) have been chasing the dollar far too long. Maybe now we can get back to playing proper squash, with proper scoring, proper dimensions and proper rallies.
We should be proud of our game and stop pandering to the IOC and tv.
Their loss, not ours.

[squashclub]

I have never even heard of Rugby 7. I read the wikipedia page and it is a "variation" of rugby. How can a "variation" sport be considered a real sport???

[IRLsquash]

totally depressing really. what do people think will happen to our sport now? will it continue dying a slow death in most parts of the world ( except the us ) or will the squash community as a whole just accept non-olympic inclusion and grow stronger going forward. such a pity really. i am of the opinion that olympic inclusion was the only way squash would really take off. utterly depressing.......

[ianball]

I love the Olympics but I love them 2 sports less now.

[IRLsquash]

might be a stupid theory, but is their any possibility of getting the decision reversed on the grounds of the ioc being totally off the mark with their decision? would it be possible to get a list of criteria from them, because im fairly sure if we did get a list, squash would fit the bill more so than the other sports. maybe we should not take this crap lying down..
maybe the ioc should be shown up for their corrupt ways.
i mean, saying that squash "does not add value" is surely an admission of choosing other sports on the grounds of potential monetary income, rather than choosing a sport based on the quality of the sport as a whole.
the ioc should at least be questioned on their mindless decision and be forced to give decent answers... "doesnt add value", makes me sick really...

[Squasher88]

I unfortunately have to agree, maybe we should stop wasting our time with Olympic bids. We got NO votes at all, tied with ROLLER SPORTS! That basically says it all, they REALLY don't want squash.

[greenball]

zero score in the ioc vote.....what have the wsf been doing for 4 years? what a waste of time & money!!!

[stanton]

The Olympics has completely lost its ideals, it is only interested in Sports already awash with money.

I think most people knew Rugby would be in as Jacques Roche was once a Rugby Player !!

Golf, well this is not a physical sport its a "Skill" a bit like "darts" or "snooker".

FORGET the OLYMPICS DREAM its a waste of time & money. Squash should give up on the Olympics & put its resources into raising the profile of the sport worldwide i.e Schools ,colleges, university's & squash events.

BTW. Did the WSF ever present a video like this to the Olympic Committee so they can understand the game?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbEb3C6BGS0

[Canuck]

Squash should start playing up the non-financial aspects of the sport to sell it to the IOC. The modern Olympics were started as a peace-promoting event; we should be highlighting that squash is quite popular in Islamic nations, and the Arab nations in particular, and that squash provides an arena for peaceful competition between (and among) parts of the world with deteriorating relations. There aren't too many other sports where the strength of the field was so evenly split between feuding blocs.

A few years ago at the height of the tensions between the West and Arab, and to a lesser extent Islamic, countries, I thought that a Best-of-7 or -9 or -11 between Christendom and the Islamic world would have generated some good press for squash. It also couldn't have possibly had a negative effect on world relations, though it might have been somewhat exploitative of the situation. But the positives would have outweighed any tackiness of the event. I am thinking of the 1972 Super Series of Hockey between Canada and the USSR as an example of what could have been achieved.

Not to mention it would have been awesome squash, and a real barn-burner if the right match length was set. Anyhow, now that Egypt and the world are pretty mcuh synonymous as far as top squash goes, it would probably have to be tilted towards Egypt vs. Rest of World for it to be really competitive.

[squashyman]

I'm not gonna lie, the IOC are twats. How can a sport that requires so much skill both physically and mentally get no points.

[fedeanna]

You've gotta be kidding me!!!
Rugby seven it's a joke, it's not even the whole sport...
And golf??? Where are the athletes??
Venezuela's president recently colsed two golf courses because it was too much of a bourgeois game... we should sent him to the IOC board... that should teach them... hehe...

[IRLsquash]

even womens boxing has been added to the 2012 olympics.........

[Canuck]

The Olympics adopted a rule a while back that required a sport to be played by both men and women to be considered for inclusion. The decision was not about whether to admit women's boxing or not, it was whether to admit women's boxing or lose boxing's Olympic status altogether. As such, women's boxing wasn't really ever standing in the same line as squash, golf, rugby 7's et al. The same decision was faced by synchronised swimming a few years ago. I'm guessing boxing was given a longer reprieve to get the women's standard to a more reasonable standard prior to admission.

What about mixed martial arts? Do you think it will get in before squash? I think it will.

Time to focus on organic growth instead of begging for the IOC's magic beans.

[mike_h]

I think there may have been some crossed wires. Much of the commentary from the squash side was about what the Olympics would do for squash. Clearly the IOC are looking at what prospective sports can do for the Olympics.

I am disappointed, but not surprised. If the criteria was focused purely on the quality of the sport then squash would already be in the program.

[powersquash]

the worst notice in years !

golf....7rugby

more work for have squash in 2020 - not to lower the arms!!

we salut from Rosario - Argentina

http://www.squashworld.com
http://www.rosario.gov.ar

[jeffsneyd]

Hey all, Why is NFL & CFL (CFL not really football) not in Olympics??? These guys could use some extra $$$ and the sport needs some exposure as well.....Why did they not submit a bid???? Hockey, Basketball are in why not Football....BTW squash needs to refocus and follow table tennis and have events in arenas, pack the place, get TV contracts etc. Next time squashies!!

[juniorlamojo]

the IOC are a bunch of you know whats.
lets all take a look at the future olympic athletes:
http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/sp ... n_daly.jpg

and the best ones of him

http://www.nndb.com/people/577/00002649 ... golfer.jpg

http://www.prosportswrap.com/images/joh ... -image.jpg

cant forget good ol' tom watson. the man who proved it is possible to be a 60 year old finalist in a major "sport" final
http://www.alscenter.org/images/news/ev ... 400pix.jpg

[stevo]

The whole thing is a joke . Perhaps squash is better off not being part of it.

I don't think the process did squash any favours at all. If, as has been mentioned, squash was the second choice of many of the committee then allowing each member only one vote meant it was doomed from the start. Going out at the first hurdle meant it couldn't receive any votes in the subsequent rounds. Each member should have had two votes. As I said, a joke.

As for Golf and mini Rugby adding value, that just means sponsors which equals cash in the IOC's pockets.

I reckon squash should take a step back from the Olympic dream after this. Too much energy and resources wasted on something that only comes round every 4 years. Time to address more fundamental issues like declining player numbers, centre closures etc.

Finally, not wanting to criticise Golf and mini Rugby too much, but these are poor choices.

Rugby 7's: It isn't even the full sport (lets have 5 a side football next)
Golf : says it will help grow the sport in smaller countries. Yeah, if they can afford it. Not exactly a sport for the masses. As for Tiger showing up for the olympics he hardly gave the firmest commitment did he, "Uh, yeah, if I am still playing, sure count me in". Sounds like the response you get when you suggest a few beers after work.

[nzbrendo]

Enough navel gazing, it's time to move forward.

Squash should use the Olympics to it's benefit. During the 2012 Olympics why not hold a tournament in London, set up a court in Trafalger Square, maybe one at Tower Bridge or any of the many other landmarks in London. Organise for all the top players to be available, and instead of prize money, use sponsorship funds to promote Squash.

And unlike other sports, maybe the top players can be available to the public in between matches, get some of the public on court for free coaching, introduce people to the sport and build an interest with spectators that they can take away from the Olympics.

This could be replicated at other major events, such as the Football/Soccer World Cup, in the non Olympic years.

Rather than attracting people to Squash, lets put it in their face so they can't miss it.

[Deep Boast]

Not that I want to be the harginger of doom, but before anyone gets gung-ho about gearing up for 2020, the Olympic Program is now at its maximum of 28 sports (assuming Golf and mini-rugby (I like that name) get rubberstamped, which I'm sure they will be).

After all the shenanigans of the last two rounds, I think the IOC will want a quiet period for the next one, or two, rounds, they'll probably opt for a block vote on retaining all current olympic sports.

If that happens it means the next chance for new sports will be 2024 or 2028. And even then the candidates will have to wait for one of the existing sports to be ejected before they have any chance.

Don't hold your breath ................

[getmeinahalfpipe]

Gough summed it up at right at the end of his bbc interview, definitely about how deep these other 'sports' pockets are. Sad, but true. I wonder where squash goes from here? Everything seemed to be building up to this moment, as people have mentioned already- we should carry on and may be ditch the olympic campaign, push for worldwide recognition of this sport and get its popularity back up. We can show what a great sport this is.

[stevecubs]

Well, at least we got one vote ...

After being eliminated from the first sport vote with a zero, the remaining six went into a vote for the second sport.

We got one, level with roller sports, thrashed them 10-4 in the tie-break, then got zero in the next round.

Whoever you are, thanks ...

[jackoink]

Dear All,

squash is a declining sport...it is very sad because people in this world are getting fat and they dont like hard exercises that are tough on their bodies...that is why, games like golf should be included in the olympics because most of the tv audiences can identify themselves as "Olympic athletes". you have to be billionaire athletes who are afraid of hurting their little pinkies or have beer guts like a lot of the "pro" golfers.

in this sad moment (for squash), it is tempting to point fingers at people who led our olympic campaign . we should not. there are actually things in the long run that the world squash association should really work on :-

1. we need to improve the technology of the squash ball. we need to be able to see the ball very clearly on tv. with more exposure on tv, the sport will get the attention of new people (youth) to join the game and the money (sponsorship) to grow the sport.

2. we need standardize scoring . Not 11 points for the pros and 15 points for others. how about unlucky 13 (points) for everyone ?

it is very sad that this exciting game with exceptional athletes cannot make it to the Olympics...maybe the world squash federation should really hire non squash players with a more worldly perspective so this sport can achieve the status that this game and its athletes deserve.

jack
hong kong

[stanton]

Anychance PSA/WISPA could put on a major Squash event in central London (2012) & wherever 2016 during the actual Olympics?

[scotsexile]

Enough navel gazing, it's time to move forward.

Squash should use the Olympics to it's benefit. During the 2012 Olympics why not hold a tournament in London, set up a court in Trafalger Square, maybe one at Tower Bridge or any of the many other landmarks in London. Organise for all the top players to be available, and instead of prize money, use sponsorship funds to promote Squash.

And unlike other sports, maybe the top players can be available to the public in between matches, get some of the public on court for free coaching, introduce people to the sport and build an interest with spectators that they can take away from the Olympics.

Rather than attracting people to Squash, lets put it in their face so they can't miss it.

I like that idea A LOT!!!!

There used to be a exhibition sports at Olympics and and I have a feeling (not got anything concrete to back it up) that it was the host nation which chose them, so could some work be done to have it as an exhibition sport in London???

[Deep Boast]

I watched the press conference, and it wasn't impressive.

Jacques Rogge wandered in, apologised for being late and said "wer'e here to tell you why we've chosen to have women's boxing in 2012 and to recommend rugby and golf for 2016." No razamatazz, no buildup ..... it was almost disrespectful to the five sports who had put a lot of effort in but weren't chose, almost as if he was saying "everyone knows it's rugby and golf so let's get on with it ........."

[paul8241]

if the tv stations don't want to show squash any other time, why would they want to show it in the olympics.

If squash had got through, it would have been given no footage in any case.

Time to stop focussing on the olympics, it's destabilising on the game and the competition. just get it packaged for commercial tv and give it away together with some financial sponsors, see if it'll attract some ratings. If it doesn't, nothing lost.

Every 4 years it's the same deal, but rugby 7's and golf already have massive tv ratings, so why wouldn't they take them. Gotta sell the tv add slots and squash just wont do it until they decide to address that.

[Glidiator]

Pierre De Coubertin's olympic motto has now officially been changed from "faster, higher, stronger" to "money, ratings, politics".

Utterly imbicillic! Shame on you IOC.

For those who put the hard work in, thanks & keep going at it - we might be 2 nil down but we're not beaten yet. I think squash should now look at focusing on what the sport could do for the olympics & not what the olympics could do for the sport.

[seshadri]

The IOC Congress takes place in Copenhagen on Oct 2 when the committee will decide on whether golf and/or rugby sevens should be approved for 2016. The host city for those Games will also announced at the quadrennial vote.

What happens if one of these sports fails to get a majority in the final voting?

[stevecubs]

I'd suggest that's highly unlikely, they would be very foolish to do that twice in a row.

But in theory I think they could submit the sports that didn't get the EB recommendation (that was mentioned in one IOC story I saw).

Trouble is, I guess they'd go dow the list in order of how far they got in the votes, so first up would be Karate, then Softball, then Baseball, then Squash, then Roller Sports.

[squishy]

What I can't understand is how can Squash be voted onto the 2012 program by 50% of the vote and a few of years later get no votes! Something strange is going on. Mind you, it is no surprise the IOC would ignore its own principles and vote for the sports with the biggest wallets. It's not the first time they've gone for cash over principles. At least they are consistent! I think the squash world should challenge the IOC's decision before the october deadline. They should not be let off the hook easily. Squash has vied for a place for long enough. Crazy golf and rugby 7s should wait their turn!

[stevecubs]

There's a few differences. Last time it was the whole IOC who voted, 106 I think, not just the 14 on the Executive Board.

And although squash got through to be the top recommended sport, it actually only just scraped through most rounds, pipping Karate by one vote in the final round.

Then, when it came to that controversial vote to confirm Squash and Karate as Olympic sports (surely they should decide if you're an Olympic sport first, then decide if you're on the programme) neither got anywhere near the two-thirds required, or even 50% for that matter.

So no, I don't think the IOC ever really loved squash, they just had to choose two sports to replace baseball and softball, and then decided they didn't actually like either of the ones they chose - partly, apparently, because of the politics of voting off two 'american' sports.

I can't see that happening this time, surely golf and mini-rugby will be rubberstamped. And I doubt there will be any places available for 2020, so don't hold your breath.