Having absorbed Monday’s shock news that squash is on the list for the 2028 Olympic Games, I feel a bit like when a goal is scored in the Premier League – there are celebrations, but they’re delayed by the nagging fear of VAR.
The Los Angeles 2028 organising committee has named squash on a list of five recommended new sports for the Games in five years’ time. Its decision is set to be ratified by the IOC at its meeting in Mumbai on Monday.
But I remember in 2005 when squash had been voted in as an Olympic sport for London 2012, then the following day the IOC decided they weren’t going to add any more sports to the roster. I have never forgiven my fellow Sheffielder, Seb Coe, for that!
I was then 25 years old and in the world top 10. I thought to myself, ‘I’ve got seven years to become a gold medallist – that’s my life goal right there!’ Then the next day, it was like being hit by a ton of bricks. That’s why I’m conscious of not getting my hopes up again this time until it’s absolutely cemented – hopefully in the next week.
I don’t know whether anyone (except the WSF and the PSA) had the inside scoop on this, but I had no inkling at all. I’d just got back from the club and went upstairs to get changed. My wife Esme said to me, ‘What are you doing upstairs? You’ve been up there for half an hour.’ I said, ‘My phone has just blown up – squash has just got into the Olympics!’
Like everyone else, I’m now just waiting for the cast-iron announcement. I’ve checked with a few people and read stuff online and it seems like a done deal, but I’m naturally cautious and it would be nice to get that final confirmation.
As for how this will affect squash from here on, I always look at the whole spectrum, from grassroots to greatness. The Olympics news has potential to greatly impact on both ends – if we capitalise on it.
At the grassroots end, I’ve always had a dream to be able to go into a school and say, ‘You could be an Olympic champion in this sport.’ If kids don’t know anything about squash, that’s a way you can make an instant connection.
Squash has made a decision more recently that it needs to grow independently and not put all its eggs in the Olympics basket in order to grow its profile. But getting into the Games will definitely give it extra gloss at grassroots level. We can say proudly we are an Olympic sport and it offers that extra inspiration.
On the greatness side, it’s too coincidental that this has coincided with Mark Walter’s investment into the PSA and his links in LA (as owner of the LA Dodgers). You have to think there’s been an amazing job done there behind the scenes.
I’m not privy to any of the stuff that has gone on in the corridors of power, but it looks very much like he has been a major shot in the arm for the sport. Thank you from the wider squash community to all involved.
As for me, missing out on the opportunity to become an Olympic champion genuinely hasn’t crossed my mind since Monday’s news. There’s no point looking back with any regrets. It’s about the future now. This is a cause for celebration – pending VAR, of course.
Nick Matthew was speaking to Mike Dale