World Squash Federation Signs Juniper PR In Bid For Olympic Status

The World Squash Federation (WSF) has appointed London based international sports marketing agency, Juniper PR, to manage its global communications programme in support of its campaign to elevate squash to Olympic status for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Juniper PR, established over a year ago by Susan McMahon, (previously Managing Director of Bell Pottinger Sport), won the prestigious account in a five-way pitch. McMahon’s vast experience which includes a prominent media role with the Beijing Olympic Bid (BOCOG) and members of her team’s involvement with the 2008 Olympics as media facilitators helped Juniper secure the contract. The initial contract will last for eight months, culminating in an IOC vote in Copenhagen in October when up to two sports out of seven currently bidding, may be accepted into the Olympic charter.

Squash is played in 175 countries by over 20 million people and can be easily integrated into the Olympics at a very low cost to the host cities. Portable glass courts make the sport an incredible viewing spectacle for viewers both on television and in person.

Natalie Grainger, Squash 2016 Bid Team member and World No 4 said, “We recognized in Juniper PR, an energetic and creative approach that will positively support our campaign. We will now proceed to get the attention of the IOC and the sporting world as a whole. Squash is an excellent spectator sport and has all the right ingredients for inclusion in the games. An Olympic medal would be the highest achievement in the sport, and the top players of both sexes have pledged their commitment to compete. “

Susan McMahon said, “This is an important and significant account win for us. The international game of squash is a very exciting sport for all and we look forward to working with the bid team to ensure the best chance of its inclusion in the 2016 Games.”

Source: Around the Rings

World Squash Athlete Ambassadors Rally In New York

Grand Central Terminal in New York provided the perfect platform for the first meeting of Squash’s Olympic Athlete Ambassadors, a select group of leading players nominated by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA) as the sport's two international player bodies rallied to the call from the World Squash Federation to spearhead the sport’s bid to join the Olympic Games programme in 2016.

Both organisations have pledged their full and unwavering support to the WSF-led campaign.

“We are working very closely with both PSA and WISPA – both of whose boards and membership are totally supportive of the Olympic campaign,” said the WSF’s Olympic Bid Manager Scott Garrett.

“The purpose of appointing Athlete Ambassadors is to have real, live, participating athletes to represent the sport to the IOC and any interested parties seeking information about the sport regarding the sport's efforts to get into the Olympics," added Garrett.

Natalie Grainger, ranked four in the world and President of WISPA, echoed the WSF's commitment: "We have come together because we fully represent what Squash is all about: we are not only eloquent, and span a broad mix of cultures, but we are passionate about Squash becoming an Olympic sport,” said the new Athlete Ambassador.

"For us, and all elite players, the Olympic Games would be the absolute highlight of the Squash calendar," added Grainger.

The initial line-up of Squash’s Olympic Athlete Ambassadors is:

· Natalie Grainger (USA), the WISPA President and former world number one who is the reigning Pan American Games champion

· Lee Beachill (England), the PSA President; a former world number one and two times Commonwealth Games gold medallist and three-time British National champion

· Peter Nicol (England), a board member of the PSA and former world champion who has won four Commonwealth Games gold medals and has held the world number one ranking for 60 months

· Thierry Lincou (France), a former world champion and world number one, currently ranked seven in the world, who has been French National champion a record ten times

· Ramy Ashour (Egypt), the 21-year-old world number three and reigning world champion who became the first player to win two successive world junior men’s titles

· Samantha Teran (Mexico), a three-time winner of the Pan American championship and the first Mexican woman to earn a world top 20 ranking

New York is currently hosting one of the sport’s most high-profile events: The JP Morgan Tournament of Champions is in its ninth year at Grand Central Terminal. Staged on an all-glass court in the Vanderbilt Hall, the elite championship has become the world’s largest spectator squash event, providing an unparalleled opportunity for tens of thousands of travelling New Yorkers to watch the action as they pass through the world-famous station.

Picture caption: Pictured by the all-glass court at Grand Central Terminal in New York are new WSF Olympic Athlete Ambassadors (L to R) Peter Nicol, Thierry Lincou, Natalie Grainger, Ramy Ashour, Samantha Teran and Lee Beachill - flanked by PSA Chairman Ziad Al-Turki (Saudi Arabia) (extreme left) and PSA Chief Operating Officer Alex Gough (Wales) (extreme right)

WSF's Ramachandran Meets IOC President In Lausanne

Official Release
Issued by Howard Harding

The new World Squash Federation President Mr. N. Ramachandran paid a courtesy call on International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge today (Thursday) at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.

Outgoing WSF President Jahangir Khan introduced his successor, who was elected at last month's WSF AGM which was held during the Men's & Women's World Championships in Manchester, England.

During the visit, Ramachandran & Khan took the opportunity to present a commitment signed by top squash stars, led by world number ones Nicol David (Malaysia) and Amr Shabana (Egypt), pledging that the Olympics would be the ultimate prize for any squash player.

Squash is one of seven sports short-listed by the IOC for consideration for the 2016 Olympic Games. The meeting with President Rogge took place on the eve of the WSF's presentation to the Olympic Programme Commission in Lausanne.

Pictured at the presentation (from L to R) are: Christophe Dubi, IOC Sports Director; N Ramachandran, WSF President; Jacques Rogge, IOC President; Jahangir Khan, WSF Emeritus President.

Squash Presents its case to the IOC

Official Release
By Howard Harding

The bid by Squash to get onto the Olympic Games programme for 2016 took a step forward today (Friday) when a World Squash Federation delegation offered the credentials of the sport to the Olympic Programme Commission in Lausanne.

The seven sports vying for the two probable spots are baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens and softball, along with squash - each of which gave a one-hour presentation.

The Squash team, headed by IOC member Tunku Imran, himself a former WSF President, featured two past presidents, Susie Simcock and Jahangir Khan, along with newly-elected WSF President Mr N Ramachandran. Australia’s record five-time world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald and WSF Technical Director Andrew Shelley completed the group.

The presentation highlighted that Squash is a sport for our time: A sport giving great competitive exercise in a short time period, which has strong national federations and features development initiatives all the way from local level to elite.

The sport is already featured in every major international multi-sport Games, except for the Olympics. It has uniform scoring, is drug-free - and competing in the Olympics would be the pinnacle of the career of any squash player.

The IOC Commission, which included a number of IOC members, was also told that Squash has had world champions from all regions, as well as around 150 national federations belonging to the world body.

Mr Ramachandran, who with outgoing President Jahangir Khan had paid a courtesy visit to IOC President Jacques Rogge the day before, was upbeat after the session.

“The questions we were asked indicated a full understanding of our sport, and an interest in details of our structure. They now know even more clearly what we stand for, our strengths and everything positive that we believe we could bring to the Olympic programme in 2016.”

Countdown to Copenhagen- Squash's Olympic Efforts (Part1)

Visit: Squash360

World's Top Players Pledge Support For Squash Olympic Bid

The world's leading players pledged their support for the World Squash Federation's bid for Squash to become an Olympic sport by signing a declaration that "An Olympic Gold Medal Would Be The Ultimate Prize In Squash".

World number ones Amr Shabana, of Egypt, and Nicol David, from Malaysia, led the players' call for the sport to join the Olympic Games programme in 2016 at a 'Countdown to Copenhagen" reception in Manchester today (Wednesday), hosted by the WSF and led by its President Jahangir Khan, one of the sport's greatest players of all time.

Squash is one of seven sports which have been short-listed by the IOC for consideration for the 2016 Games - the decision for which will be made in Copenhagen in October 2009.

Jahangir Khan outlined the sport's Olympic credentials and the timetable of the bid process over the next twelve months.

"We have a year to ensure that we do what needs to be done to get Squash into the Olympics. All parties have to work closely, with everybody pushing hard to try to do their best to make this happen," said the six-time world champion and record ten times British Open winner.

Khan pointed out that an IOC delegation, comprising Sir Craig Reedie and Pierre Ducrey, will attend the Manchester World Championships later in the week.

The WSF President expressed his gratitude to all the players who had taken time out from the World Championships to attend the reception.

"We are delighted that all the players have signed our pledge - showing that it would be a dream come true for all players for Squash to get into the Olympics.

Read the full article, here..

SQUASH AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES: A PERFECT MATCH!

Malaysian Nicol guns for Olympic inclusion

Squash has every reason to be part of the Olympic Games, Nicol David says, and the world number one plans to muster all her influence to ensure that outcome.

The International Olympic Committee will decide next October whether up to two new sports will be included in the 2016 Games and squash along with golf, rugby, karate, baseball, softball and rollersports are in full election mode.

Malaysian Nicol lobbied hard but unsuccessfully in 2005 for the sport's inclusion at London 2012 and is determined to see squash admitted next time round.

"It's very disappointing not having squash in the Olympics because it's the pinnacle for any athlete in every sport to be associated with the Olympic Games," the 25-year-old told Reuters.

"I say squash has every reason to be amongst the other racket sports in the Olympic Games and I'm sure in the future hopefully squash will get that opportunity."

Tennis, badminton and table tennis all feature in the modern Olympics.

Olympic inclusion would help squash gain the funding it needs to progress, Nicol said.

"Hopefully, if squash gets into the Olympics, more countries will have the proper backing from their sports councils to get funding for the sport itself in their country," she said in an email interview.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT
"We also need a lot more media attention and to make it (more) visual on TV for people to follow the sport."

Nicol on Sunday won her seventh consecutive Women's International Squash Players Association (Wispa) title with victory in the Dutch Open final in Amsterdam.

She said it was possible to make a living from the sport.

"It's reasonably fine for the top 20 players to work with the prize money from tournaments but funding from the government and sponsors are essential to keep maintaining their position in the rankings for the rest of the other players outside the top 20.

"At the moment every squash player is doing their part in trying to promote the sport and to gain recognition in the world."

Playing in the Olympics would cap a remarkable career.

"That would be truly the highlight of my career ... representing Malaysia in the Olympics and being among the best athletes in the world in their respective sports," Nicol said.

The Olympics is Nicol's aim

Datuk Nicol David may be a two-time world champion but it's playing in the Olympics, that is if squash gets there, which is her ultimate ambition.

But until then, the Malaysian and world No 1 will have to keep fighting and promoting the game in the hope that her favourite sport will earn the nod of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As things stand, the IOC will only undertake a review of any inclusion or exclusion of the list of sports to be contested in the Olympics only after the 2012 Games in London.

"We have been told that squash stands a chance of being included in the 2016 Games, which is eight years from now and the World Squash Federation is working very hard towards that aim.

"I am very excited about the prospects of playing in the Olympics and by then (2016) I would be 33. Hopefully I will still be around. For me the most important thing is to stay injury free. That's the key," said Nicol on the sidelines of the Singapore Women's Squash Masters 2008 which gets underway Wednesday.

For now, the Olympic dreams have to be put aside as she chases her sixth crown of the year in the US$53,500 tournament at the Kallang Squash Centre in the Republic. And then there is the Dutch Open in Amsterdam in September and to be followed by the World Championship in Manchester in October.

"There is so much hard work ahead, particularly in the World Championship which is the title everyone on the circuit is eyeing. You cannot afford to take your eyes off your opponent, even for one second," added Nicol. - Bernama

Squash Olympic Strategy Planned in Kuala Lumpur

World Squash Federation
Official Release
May 2008 Instant Update
Received June 5, 2008

Following the IOC announcement that Squash has been included on the shortlist of sports under consideration for the 2016 Olympic Games, the WSF organised an Olympic Strategic Planning Session during last month's ManCom meeting schedule in Kuala Lumpur.

Members of ManCom were also joined WSF Patron and IOC Member Tunku Imran and Emeritus President Susie Simcock.

Among the issues discussed were:
- The benefits of Squash's inclusion in the Games, both from the WSF and the Olympic movement's points of view
- The Review Process timeline from now until the Copenhagen meeting decision date in October 2009
- Lobbying
- The role of Media & PR
- Communication of the sport's Development & Growth
- Major event presentation
- Market Intelligence
- Operational plan

"After the huge disappointment of so narrowly missing out on inclusion in the 2102 Games in London, we are determined to present an irresistible case for Squash being added to the 2016 Olympic Games programme," said WSF President Jahangir Khan. "This is the sport's number one focus over the coming year."

Squash On IOC Shortlist For 2016 Olympic Games

24 April 2008
http://www.wispa.net/NM/anmviewer.asp?a=904&z=1

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Squash On IOC Shortlist For 2016 Olympic Games

Following extensive global campaigning by the World Squash Federation since the sport narrowly missed out being added to the London 2012 programme, the WSF has received news from the IOC that Squash has been included on the shortlist of sports under consideration for the 2106 Olympic Games.

In a letter to Jahangir Khan, IOC Sports Director Christophe Dubi congratulated and thanked the WSF President "most sincerely for the tremendous work you accomplished in order to complete the questionnaire for IOC Recognised International Federations".

Squash has been selected along with Baseball, Golf, Karate, Roller Sports, Rugby and Softball.

Played by around 15 million enthusiasts on all five continents, Squash has been vigorously campaigning to join the Olympic Games programme for many years.

In 2005, Squash was voted into the London 2012 Olympic Games ahead of Karate, Roller Sports, Rugby and Golf - but then failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required to become ratified as an Olympic sport.

"I am confident that the reason why Squash was chosen ahead of other sports in 2005 is down to its image as an intensely athletic, healthy, universal, inclusive and exciting world sport," said the WSF President. "This image is the result of decades of positive development."

Squash is primarily a ‘participant sport’, as the vast majority of people associated with it actually play, leading to real health/recreational benefits to society.

The sport is played by an estimated 15 million people in over 155 countries - with more than a quarter million registered athletes, plus over 600 professional athletes.

Squash is also a “high value” sport for Organising Committees as facilities required for an Olympic event are both economical and temporary. TV production technology has developed positively in the past few years - and Squash is now regularly featured on TV in more than 125 countries across all continents Web streaming has taken off over the past three years: The last two World Championships each reached audiences in over 75 countries while PSALIVE.tv has over 30,000 paid subscribers in only two years of operation