AROUND THE WORLD ON MAY 23rd

We are now making some definite plans to co-ordinate a very simple but hopefully effective publicity programme on May 23rd.

The plan is this: Large groups of squash players gather at iconic locations all over the world and raise banners saying SQUASH FOR 2016.



In London we plan to visit many different locations in the city.

We could start at Greenwich Time Museum on top of the hill, then head to the Dome, Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge, City Hall, Tate Modern, The Globe Theatre, the Gerkhin, St Paul's Cathedral, Covent Garden, then Buckingham Palace (plus a few major railway stations).

If we can get similar events going in major cities all over the world then the response could be phenomenal.

We want organisers to upload the pictures to the Squash 2016 Day website hour by hour (see side panel) as we move through the different time zones and by the end of the day we will have a fantastic collection of images to send to international media.

We will alert the major national and international photographic news agencies (Reuters, Getty, Action Images) to cover the event in the hope that we can generate some significant media attention.



Reuters and the BBC were very supportive during the Canary Wharf tournament and Reuters produced TV programmes on the Olympic bid for three different regions, including their Arab service.

Just imagine the following locations:

Sydney Opera House
Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur
Great Wall Of China
Hong Kong Harbour
Taj Mahal
Pyramids
Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai
Eiffel Tower, Paris
Buckingham Palace, London
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Niagara Falls
San Francisco
CN Tower, Toronto
Brooklyn Bridge
Grand Central Station, NY
White House
Grand Canyon
Las Vegas

PLUS many, many more all over the world!



It is important that events take place in the four cities bidding to host the 2016 Games - Chicago is already on board in a big way but we need to get things moving in Madrid, Rio and Tokyo.



Alan Thatcher
.

Squash for 2016 Banner

Here's a banner that you can download and use at your clubs ... or any other uses you can think of !

Squash for 2016 Video

SQUASHING ALL OVER THE WORLD ON 2016 DAY

World of squash unites to support Olympic bid

The world of squash is uniting to support the sport’s bid for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic programme with a massive worldwide festival on May 23rd.

The popular World Squash Day is being re-branded as Squash 2016 Day as National Federations all over the globe organise a massive programme of events.

Every squash club on the planet is being urged to throw open its doors to promote the sport and help the Olympic bid.

Squash 2016 Bid Team Member and former world champion Peter Nicol said: “Our ultimate aim is for every club in the world to open their doors on this one special day, to show people what a fantastic sport we have, to get media and personalities involved, and encourage new participants to take up the game.”

The event is endorsed by the World Squash Federation - and World Squash Day founder Alan Thatcher said: “This gives every squash club the opportunity to support two major objectives: to raise the profile of the sport and to raise valuable money for the Squash 2016 Bid Fund.

“The Olympic bid is an ambitious project which, if successful, will give squash a deserved place in the Olympic Games. That bid process is not cheap and it is up to every squash player to help the cause.”

Nicol added: “Squash 2016 Day is free to join and we look forward to seeing a massive response, with clubs and federations employing their creative powers to organise fantastic global festival of this brilliant game.”

WORLD SQUASH DAY - PLANNED EVENTS

This article is for YOU to post what's happening at YOUR club, just add a comment telling us what's planned. Once it's happened, you can post your report and photos ...

EVENTS: WHAT YOU CAN DO

Various clubs have written in with suggestions for activities on World Squash Day. These include:

* Club Open Day
* 24-hour squash marathons
* Play-A-Pro
* Adults v Juniors
* Doubles Tournaments
* Handicap tournaments
* Battle of the Sexes
* Wooden Rackets competitions
* Exhibition matches with a top professional or two
* Fifteen, twenty and - yes - thirty-a-side social "friendly" matches.
* Free courts for kids
* Free coaching sessions for players of all ages and abilities.
* World Record Rally

Clearly, the accent is on FUN.

LET US KNOW

Whatever you decide to do, please make sure you let us know in advance by adding your comments to the events page. And, after the day, post your reports and pictures to add to the site.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Don't forget to to involve your local newspapers, websites, TV channels and radio stations. Why not invite them along to join in or record the activities. Let's make this a day when we REALLY put squash ON THE MAP.

Squash and the Olympics

Squash is the world’s healthiest, most exciting sport

Forbes Magazine concluded that squash was the world’s healthiest sport after a survey in 2007. Squash doesn’t take very long to play but players burn lots of calories while playing, so it is great for young people today who want to get fit in the shortest possible time. At the elite level, squash is extremely athletic and exciting to watch, live and on TV.

Squash is a popular, accessible sport, played the world over

Squash is played in 175 countries by over 20 million people. Every continent has recreational players and professionals. It is played by men and women, young and old. It’s easy to get started and the cost of equipment is low. There are courts all over the world and it is easy to just turn up and have a game.

The game is well organised to take advantage of inclusion in the Olympic Games

Both the PSA and WISPA manage flourishing World Tours in which elite players compete. The WSF manages World Championships and these are fully integrated into the World Tours. All three organizations are 100% behind the bid for Olympic inclusion and are fully prepared to take advantage of the increase in awareness and participation that will result for the good of the game, and the Games, in general.

An Olympic Medal will be the sport’s highest honour

Every player agrees that the Olympic Games would take the sport to a different level and the Olympic Champion of Squash is a title that every player wants.

Squash’s top athletes will definitely compete

The world’s top men and women have all signed a pledge that they would compete in the Olympics. They will be supported in doing so by their National Federations, the WSF and PSA or WISPA.

Squash can take the Olympic Games into new markets

Squash has world class athletes from countries that do not traditionally produce Olympians. Including squash in the Olympic Games will boost awareness of the Olympic Movement in these countries, and will also promote better funding for the development of the sport.

The impact of squash on the Olympic Games will be high, the cost low

Squash is a portable sport: a court requires minimal space and can be erected anywhere. Squash tournaments have been held in many iconic locations around the world, attracting players and non-players to the sport. This makes squash an ideal sport for showcasing the host city.

We will use local squash clubs in the host city for training and practice, so squash can be staged without any investment in permanent facilities or infrastructure.

WORLD SQUASH DAY: BACKGROUND

World Squash Day was founded following the terrorist attacks in America on September 11th 2001.

A number of squash players were among those killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center, including Derek Sword, a former Scottish junior international player who was squash champion at New York Athletic Club.

Several of Derek’s friends decided to create something special in his honour, and also provide something tangible for squash. Hence World Squash Day was born.

Among the annual activities is a challenge match between New York and a UK team who compete for the Derek Sword Trophy, a magnificent silver rose bowl donated by Derek’s employers, KBW.

SQUASH 2016 T SHIRTS

BACK THE BID: WEAR THE SHIRT!



Squash 2016 T-shirts are available from Kentbridge Sports
(www.kentbridgesports.co.uk) with big discounts for bulk orders from clubs.

Please contact Simon Scott at:

simon@kentbridgesports.co.uk

Or order online at www.kentbridgesports.co.uk

A contribution of £2.16p from every shirt sale will be donated the the
Squash 2016 Bid Fund