Taking the IOC to court

[stevecubs]

If the legal arguments are correct, Squash (and Karate) should be part of the London 2012 Olympics, and beyond.

www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/2016-2.htm

What do you think ?

[seshadri]

If squash has a strong legal case, and a deep war chest, I think the IOC should be made answerable in court for the rejection of squash as an Olympic sport.

[Squasher88]

If we have a strong case against them (I always did find the 2005 result very fishy) then I say HELL YES!! We should definitely take them to court. What do we have to lose?

[New York Nick]

Yeah, sounds like a great idea. The whole thing looks like a rugby conspiracy. Rogge is a rugby guy, right? So he gamed the system to keep squash and karate out in 2012, leaving a spot for rugby in 2016.

This could be a situation where squash's elitist status is a benefit. There must be some powerful squash-loving lawyers who'd be willing to take up the cause.

[trickleb]

The fake voting last month sounds like illegal too. We should take them to court for that as well.

[delsol]

Take them to Court. That's the only way to talk to people who only see dollar notes and have forgotten all about the Olympic values. Moreover, it would seem that this is the only way Squash is going to make it to the Olympics ...

[trickleb]

It is clear now that squash is not going to get into the Olympics on values only. At least, the WSF should get the money spent on the campaign back, since it was an unfair competition. Use that money for raising the profile of the sport the right way, not the easy way.

[Adam Hildred]

If the WSF can find the money, then it's certainly worth looking into... As has been said, legal action is probably the only way to talk to these money grabbers.

[stanton]

Perhaps the powers that be could arrange a worldwide squash legal fund raising day (world squash day) ?

[squashintheolympics]

How about contacting all the sports in the world that arent in the olympics and set up a rival sporting federation for all those sports that cant pay off the IOC

[Estephan]

If squash has a strong legal case, and a deep war chest, I think the IOC should be made answerable in court for the rejection of squash as an Olympic sport.

Agree 100%. if there is a case I am there... 100%.

[bounce]

I was optimistic Squash would finally get in, giving the IOC the benefit of the doubt.

Now I honestly don't think it will EVER happen. My first thought was we would be burning our bridges by making a stink about it but on second thoughts Squash should definitely take legal action.Even though this happened 4 years ago it should still be persued.

I am surprised there has not been more posts debating this. Come on everyone!!

SQUASH SHOULD NOW LEAD THE CAMPAIGN TO EXPOSE THE CORRUPTION OF THE IOC!!!!!

[peterhopkins]

Even if we won a court case, the judge would be unlikely to award "specific performance" (i.e. order IOC to incorporate squash in the olympics), although they could award damages, but damages are designed to put the aggrieved party back in the state they were in before the breach occurred. This could at best recover some of the money spent on the campaign since then, and some of the legal fees of the court case (perhaps 70% at most) but a court challenge could cost hundreds of thousands and so squash could still end up seriously out of pocket and could cause irreparable damage to the image of squash with the IOC and the world. I also think that the chances of winning the case are too unknown to risk a challenge; there may be a good legal case but this sort of challenge is unprecedented and very hard for lawyers to advise clients about their chances of winning, and so much depends on the choice of judge.


Motto: things are never quite as bad, nor as good, as at first they seem

[PRSSquash]

Take the ioc to court what has squash to lose!

[Squasher88]

What does the IOC give us that we would be afraid to lose if we take them to court? In other words, what would we be the effects of "irreparable damage to the image of squash with the IOC"??? Do they give us any funding?

[shearsquash]

If the IOC have excluded us illegally from the olympics we should definitely take them to court. We may get some adverse publicity but we will also get a tremendous chance to give some very good publicity. Have we got the funds to do it and how long is it likely to take?

[IRLsquash]

the ioc should not be allowed to get away with their corrupt ways, and they practically admitted their corrupt wass with their "not adding value" comment. its about time us as united squash players stood up for our sport and be counted. go for it!!!

[serpineda8]

If we have a good basis and if the second voting was illegal, why not demand our rights? If it is, then go ahead and Squash will be an Olympic Sport in London 2016.

[delsol]

I agree with TrickleB that we should try to recover the money spent on the recent Olympic campaign from IOC. They have wrongly misled us into believing that squash had an even chance of making it to the Olympics. Recent evidence has shown that this was never the case. I would say that this misrepresentation was serious enough to be regarded as a fraud even ... and it has certainly caused the Squash fraternity to suffer losses in incurring expenditures for the campaign. What IOC did was disgusting ... its like luring little kids with candies with the intention of never giving it to them ... all the while knowing that those candies are reserved for their two little 'fat' kids.

[delsol]

Even if we won a court case, the judge would be unlikely to award "specific performance" (i.e. order IOC to incorporate squash in the olympics), although they could award damages, but damages are designed to put the aggrieved party back in the state they were in before the breach occurred. This could at best recover some of the money spent on the campaign since then, and some of the legal fees of the court case (perhaps 70% at most) but a court challenge could cost hundreds of thousands and so squash could still end up seriously out of pocket and could cause irreparable damage to the image of squash with the IOC and the world. I also think that the chances of winning the case are too unknown to risk a challenge; there may be a good legal case but this sort of challenge is unprecedented and very hard for lawyers to advise clients about their chances of winning, and so much depends on the choice of judge.


Motto: things are never quite as bad, nor as good, as at first they seem

I have to disagree with this. I don't think it's specific performance we are after. From what I have read, the remedy we are after sounds more likely to be a Declaration, ie. to rule on the status of the second vote. If the Court finds that squash had already been legally admitted into the Olympics, then we are in. There is no need for the specific performance.

[crossdrop]

I wonder how long Squash would remain an Olympic sport if this is the direction taken?

[stevecubs]

I think the answer to that is easy ... once.

[crossdrop]

So why do you push this issue Steve if you know you're sending Squash to its death??

[IRLsquash]

i would not agree steve. if we take ioc to court and win ( which i think we should win hands down ), they would have to be very careful in the future if they decide to throw squash out and they would have to have very good reason for doing so. have you had any dialogue or news from the wsf on this subject steve? I must say, fair play to you for publishing this article and bringing this injustice to everyones attention. well done, good stuff..

[stevecubs]

I'm not pushing it, but I think it deserved raising and debating.

[IRLsquash]

according to the squashgame website, pulling wisdom teeth is easier than pitting a post on here. if people want to join the olympic discussion, is it posible to make it easier for them?

[stevecubs]

Not really. All you have to do is register - just like you have to do on squashgame - and after your first three posts have been approved your posts appear automatically. The days of unrestricted posting are gone, done that, learnt our lessons.

[seshadri]

Rogues, sorry I mean Rogges, come and go. Surely the IOC is more than just one man. If squash does win it's case in court, it will only be seen as a loss of face for the president, not the IOC as a whole, because all the skeletons will be made to see the light of day. He has already been a very controversial president, and his conduct in other matters like squash deserves to come under public scrutiny.

[crossdrop]

This isn't news to people inside Squash! It only came to light once egos were put in check. If anything, it should've been handled immediately. The WSF said they campaigned for 6 months (which is nothing) and the legal battle would take a lot longer. Is the WSF fully capable? I don't think so. the PSA and WISPA have more important issues while each national assc. can't fund them. There's also unjust behavior from within our sport and we don't talk about that, because that would make us look bad!! It's sooooo easy for Squash to blame others while little issues like "Doubles in the Commonwealth games and not for the Olympics, or scoring issues, etc ,etc". The IOC is not blind to our internal problems. But we are! I pray for Squash to be in the Olympics, but blind faith has led us to this situation of inattention to our own faults.

[delsol]

I wonder how long Squash would remain an Olympic sport if this is the direction taken?

I think we need to know what the rules are on this, ie. what are the circumstances justifying expulsion of a sport from the Olympics. If such a decision is entirely within IOC's discretion, then I guess we might be looking at a pyrrhic victory.

[browndd]

Squash has been passive for too long, and have not received any favours for doing so. It is time the WSF should some teeth and muscled our way into the olympic programme, they might bre afraid of being shown to be corrupt...lets give it to them

[souts]

It sounds like the only way for them to take us seriously is to get the heavies involved and take them to court. Squash is a great game and should be in the Olympics!!!

[IRLsquash]

just curious steve, did any action come about after this post and your article on the main page. did the wsf have any comment to you or support?

[stevecubs]

No, the only reaction was from England Squash, who think there's no chance of it happening. I'm expecting more from them shortly ...

[John Kostiw]

It appears that we may have (deliberatly ) been misled regarding squashes chances of being an Olympic sport, It may not ncessarlily be a 'spectator sport' but some of the worlds fittest sportsmen and women play it. It's played world wide what else does the IOC want.? Take on the IOC!, if we don't win,the court may rule that the IOC reimburse the costs incurred .

[ladder - what ladder]

Well in the poll I voted yes, to take the IOC to court - pretty expensive I'd say, but I for one would be willing to help the 'fighting fund', lets have a whip round and ring fence the donations (for use for this cause only) - how many others? - Do we really love the sport or are we just like old men in the bar after a few sets - 'talking a good game?' I wonder?

[backafterlunch]

Take the IOC to court. Squash has nothing to lose now. It will never be accepted into 2020 or 2024. Squash needs to illustrate its muscle to avoid being viewed as a side show.

The squash federation owe it to both the sport and squash competitors up and down the country to pursue 2012. Cost should not be an issue if squash is serious about being an Olympic sport. No disrespect to table tennis, tennis and babmington, clay pigeon shooting, target shooting and all the other 'sports' but squash should be on the world stage.

Pursue this issue in the courts or stay a marginalised sport.

BNR