Squash Welcomes Chance to be Part of Youth Olympics
Posted on 10th Mar 2018, 12:00am
The long fight to have squash included in the Olympic Games will take a positive step later this year when it is included as a showcase sport at the Youth Olympic in Argentina – and Australia will be hoping to send two of its most promising young players.
There will be no medals up for grabs, but six days of exhibition games which will provide a chance to show off the dexterity, strength and athleticism required to be a top-level squash player.
“This is going to be a great opportunity for our sport, and a wonderful chance for two of our young players to experience an amazing event,” Squash Australia CEO, Richard Vaughan, said.
“There will be 18 male and 18 female young ambassadors, and among them hopefully two Australians aged between 15 and 18, being part of an event that could well be a step towards our dream of being part of the Olympic program.
“Everyone involved with squash has worked incredibly hard to convince the Olympic movement that we belong in their Games, so we are very grateful to the organisers of YOG 2018 to be given this opportunity.”
The YOG began in Singapore in 2010, an event designed to give the world’s best young athletes a chance to experience competing at a major multi-sport event.
It’s also an opportunity to showcase and trial new sports. It will be the first time squash has been part of an Olympic event.
“As a showcase sport, there will be no medals, no scoring, no podiums,” Vaughan said.
“But there will be a showcourt, introductory clinics, even an inflatable court. We will make sure squash puts on a show to remember.”
The format will see three pools of six players each in both male and female competition. Only one male and one female from each country will be permitted to attend.
The athletes will also get to attend the Buenos Aires opening ceremony, as well as attend all the other sports.
“2018 is shaping as such an important year for our sport, especially here in Australia,” Vaughan said.
“Next month we get the opportunity to show off our best players at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, an event in which we hope to repeat the success of Glasgow four years ago.
“And now we get the chance to be part of a unique opportunity to showcase our sport to the Olympic family. It’s a breakthrough year for squash.”
The 2018 Youth Olympic Games will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the squash competition running from October 7-12.
More details about qualification will be released soon.
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