BY ROD GILMOUR



Squash’s last-ditch hopes of being included on to the Olympic programme for the 2020 Games in Tokyo have been firmly closed.

Following a stormy World Squash Federation in Nice where delegates attempted to question the governing body’s Olympic bid, president N Ramachandran was forced to issue a response in which he said that “positive conversations” had been held with the IOC following squash’s omission from the Tokyo 2020 shortlist.

“The IOC have indicated that there is a recognition that squash has been unfortunate and that they will try and help our sport,” Ramachandran said.



However, this does not relate to squash’s chances in 2020.



The IOC has the final say when it votes on Tokyo’s recommendations next year, but a spokesperson told Squash Player: “The IOC is currently in the process of reviewing the Tokyo 2020 proposal for additional events and is not in a position to consider events not proposed by Tokyo.

“We will of course continue to discuss with the WSF and all Olympic and IOC-Recognised IFs the processes for the development of future Olympic Games.”



Squash has yet to confirm whether it will bid for the 2024 Olympics when the time comes, but is likely to face a heavyweight sport if the sport is put forward.

Mark Bisson, European editor for Around the Rings, an influential Olympic news service, said: “Squash needs some new innovations as new federations such as cricket vie for inclusion in the 2024 Olympics.

“26 sports applied for inclusion in the Tokyo Games. The successful 20204 bid - one from Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Paris or Rome - will ultimately have their own ideas about taking on a new sport or sports.



“So squash has to decide in the coming months how it can better meet the IOC’s youth appeal criteria, what else it can do to improve on its submission to Tokyo 2020 organisers before then committing to a new bid.”