THE Olympic Games has arrived and Team GB will be looking to continue the excellent form that saw them finish second in Rio.
But will British squash players have the opportunity to add to the overall medal tally?
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Squash has been attempting for decades to become an Olympic sportCredit: Getty – Contributor
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Is squash an Olympic sport?
The World Squash Federation (WSF) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
However, squash is NOT an Olympic sport.
The sport did apply to join the 2024 Olympics but was edged out by a number of other sports.
Sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding are joining the Olympics this year, while breakdancing (which will be called breaking) will become an Olympic sport at Paris 2024.
Jahangir Khan, known as the greatest ever squash player, expressed his bewilderment at the decision.
He said: âItâs ridiculous, I donât see it [breakdancing] as a sport, more for pleasure like going to a nightclub.
âWe have been running bids for so many years and these sports werenât in the queue and now they are. Itâs really hard to understand.
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âSquash 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.
“Iâm not sure there is even a proper circuit for skateboarding and breakdancing.â
IOC president Thomas Bach said before the new events were picked that they would be âmore gender balanced, more youthful and more urbanâ.
Squash has been successful in proving itself as a gender-balanced sport, but arguably does not match up to those sports selected in terms of being youthful or urban.
It does, however, remain a Commonwealth Games sport.
What are all the Olympic Games sports?
The Olympic Games sports are as follows:
- 3Ă3 basketball
- Archery
- Artistic gynastics
- Artistic swimming
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Basketball
- BMX freestyle
- BMX racing
- Beach volleyball
- Boxing
- Canoe slalom
- Canoe sprint
- Cycling road
- Cycling track
- Diving
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Hockey
- Judo</…….
Source: https://www.the-sun.com/sport/3334903/is-squash-olympic-games-sport-tokyo-2020/