SOUTH Africa’s elite squash players have been watching the Paris 2024 Olympics with a tinge of envy, but now they have Los Angeles 2028 in their sights.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will soon announce that squash has been added to the roster for the 2028 Games to be held in Los Angeles.
Squash players and administrators around the world are overjoyed with the sport’s acceptance onto the biggest global stage.
For many years, the World Squash Federation (WSF) has been vying for inclusion in the Games.
South African officials have supported the WSF’s efforts and are excited about the turn of events. Squash SA President Kyle Potgieter has said that the WSF will have to make the announcement.
“Alongside the World Squash Federation (WSF), Squash SA feel that this has been a long time coming,” said Potgieter.
“When we heard that WSF president Zena Wooldridge was attending the IOC meeting, we knew we had been accepted, but couldn’t celebrate until it was officially announced by the world body.
“From our point of view, no words can truly describe the joy after hearing the news that squash had successfully been admitted to the LA Olympics. This is a moment that the squash community could only have dreamed of and now it has become a reality.
“There is incredible excitement across squash circles in South Africa and this is a transformational step for the future of the sport. It is indeed a historical moment for squash and the Olympics have now instantly become the new zenith of the sport.”
South African professional and top-ranked woman Alex Fuller said it was fitting that squash will take its place on the Olympics stage.
“The excitement has been super high from squash players around the world, and we are finally getting recognition from one of the world’s biggest events – the Olympics,” said Fuller, the world’s 36th-ranked player.
“As a sport, squash has developed and changed over the years. It’s become extremely physical, fast-paced and attacking. It is a sport played at the highest intensity and, being a sport for all ages and any level, it is only fitting that squash is a part of the Olympics.”
SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) president Barry Hendricks, who has close ties to squash, was also delighted with the decision.
“As a former president of Squash SA, I am thrilled with this decision,” he said.
“I know the World Squash Federation has been working hard and tirelessly to get to this point, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to create new role models and champions for other people to follow.”
He added that it was now a matter of various stakeholders working together to ensure that South Africa’s squash players received the chance to appear on this iconic stage.
“Our policy at Sascoc is that if you meet the qualification requirements, we will take you,” Hendricks said.
“We will now meet with the national body and our high-performance team during the four years in which we must prepare for the event.
“Whether it is via professional ranking points or qualifying through Africa, Sascoc is extremely happy that another sport is flighted at the Olympics, and it gives us an opportunity to continue to grow squash in SA.”
Potgieter said the IOC’s decision would have immense benefits for the sport in SA.
“This encourages all up-and-coming squash players and current form players to work even harder to be included in this prestigious Olympic event,” he said.
“Hopefully we can expand the involvement of current sponsors and possibly attract new sponsors, which will continue the growth we have seen in events and players.
“It will be amazing to have our athletes acknowledged as Olympians and a chance to perform on the greatest sports platform.”