Squash makes Tokyo 2020 Shortlist

The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee today announced it has shortlisted eight IOC-recognised International Federations proposing events to be considered for inclusion at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (Tokyo 2020).

Inside the Games Report

What happens next ?



The Tokyo 2020 Additional Event Programme Panel will continue working to identify one or more additional events to be proposed by Tokyo 2020 to the IOC.



Successful applicants are now invited to participate in Phase II, which will include the submission of further details from the shortlisted IFs by 22 July 2015, and IF Briefings to Tokyo 2020 that will take place in Tokyo on 7-8 August 2015.

An unspecified number will then be proposed to the IOC Committee in September, before a final decision is due to made by its membership at its Session in Rio de Janeiro in August of next year.



Background: Under the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms approved December 2014, the IOC agreed to abolish the cap of 28 sports for the summer Games and move to an “events-based” system that would allow inclusion of new competitions subject to a ceiling of about 10,500 athletes and 310 medal events. Host cities are also allowed to propose for the inclusion of one or more additional events for the Games.

WSF Reaction

“We are confident that Squash would bring something special to the Programme of the Olympic Games,” said WSF President N Ramachandran on behalf of players in the 185 countries in which the sport is played, “and we are very grateful to the Tokyo 2020 Additional Event Programme Panel for including us in the shortlist.

“Squash is a fine gladiatorial sport played all over the world and featuring great athleticism, competition and broadcast output. There is a long and strong squash tradition in Japan, with the Japanese Squash Association closing in on its fiftieth anniversary,” Ramachandran added.

“Tokyo hosted some of the biggest professional events in the world a little while ago and now has great juniors such as Satomi Watanabe and Ryunosuke Tsukue who are doing so well at world level.The Olympic Games in 2020 would be perfect timing for them!”

Japan’s players get behind the bid at Tokyo Press Conference today

PSA Reaction

PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough said: “We’re delighted that squash has once again been included within the Olympic Games Shortlist and look forward to following the progress of the IOC and Tokyo 2020 committees as they build towards their final decision in August 2016.

"The Olympic Games should be the pinnacle event in any athletes’ career and inclusion in the Games would be a defining moment for squash and offer our players, who represent over 60 countries around the world, the chance to compete for what would unquestionably be the most prestigious title in the sport.

"With that in mind and as the most demanding, dynamic and gladiatorial racket sport in the world, with the ability to be played virtually anywhere in the spectacular setting of a state-of-the-art four-walled glass show court, we feel that squash would be the perfect addition to the 2020 Olympic Games and offer Tokyo the chance to showcase some of the city’s most stunning locations in a truly unique sporting environment.”

Watch the Olympic bid video

William Hill betting odds: Baseball/Softball 10/11, Karate 9/4, Squash 3/1 …

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