Squash is not an Olympic sport. The World Squash Federation (WSF) is recognised by the
International Olympic Committee, but its 2024 Olympic bid was foiled by others such as
skateboarding, surfing – and even breakdancing.
While approximately 20 million people worldwide play squash, the racket sport has struggled
to grow in popularity despite it being one of the best sports for cardiovascular health and
hand and eye coordination, as well as being playable all year round by all ages.
Many credit this popularity struggle with squash being absent from the Summer Olympic
Games. The sport has been rejected from the Paris 2024 Games and previous applications.
Although there are other prominent tournaments, such as the 2022 World Squash
Federation’s doubles squash championships which are being hosted in Glasgow this month,
they lack the strong exposure the Olympics gives.
Legendary squash player Jahangir Khan, former world no.1 and owner of six World Open
titles and ten British Open titles, has expressed his disbelief at decisions to exclude it from
the Games.
Speaking in the past to The Sun, he has claimed that it is ‘ridiculous’ that squash is still not
considered for The Olympics.
“Squash is so different now from the 70s and 80s. We have new technology, better courts
and better television coverage.
“We have improved in every way and the countries we cover are more than most other
sports. I’m not sure there is even a proper circuit for skateboarding and breakdancing, for
example.”
“We have been running bids for so many years and these sports weren’t in the queue and
now they are. It’s really hard to understand.”
However, there is a strict criteria for a sport to be considered for the Olympics.
Firstly, it needs to be recognised as a sport by the International Olympic Committee and
managed by a governing body so that the sport can gain International Sports Federation
Status. The World Squash Federation has achieved this status, so qualifies for the Olympics.
The body is responsible for enforcing Olympic rules, such as the Anti-Doping Code.
Olympic sports must also be widely practised. For men, this is a minimum of 75 countries
and four continents. For women, this is at least 40 countries and three continents. Squash
easily meets this with more than 20 million squash players in 185 countries around the
globe.
There are other ethical, funding and coverage rules sports must abide by in the Olympics
Charter, all of which squash can meet. Sports must also improve the “value and appeal” of
the Olympic Games and “retain and reflect” its modern traditions. Each year’s committee
also looks for certain aspects, whether it be urban or youth appeal.
Finally, it comes down to a vote from the International Olympic Committee members. All
sports that meet the criteria can put forward an application for the next Games, and this is
decided on ahead of time.
A common argument is that squash is difficult to spectate, yet recent years have proved that
this is changing. In the 2014 Commonwealth Games final over one million people tuned in to
BBC1. Additionally, the World Squash Federation claims that courts can be built within 25
hours to host 5000 people in 6000 square metres.
Squash may not have made the cut for 2024, but perhaps there are still hopes for 2028 Los
Angeles Summer Olympics participation.
Feature image credit: Squash Aus
Editor-in-Chief of Brig Newspaper. Final year film, media and journalism student.
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