OLYMPIC RUMOURS
Squash to be snubbed again ???
More on the reports that Japanese TV are predicting five sports (but not squash) to be recommended for inclusion in Tokyo2020 ...
The media in Japan appear to be saying that the Tokyo Organising Committee are thinking of:
Five extra sports with a total of 16 disciplines in them.
Roller Sports (Skateboarding) to get 2 disciplines for both Men and Women
Karate to get 6 disciplines.
Surfing and Sport climbing to get 2 disciplines each
2 each for Baseball and Softball.
Criteria that were apparently used:
Baseball had the greatest popularity and profit potential in Japan (but will the top players take part?)
Karate scored well too (is another martial art needed?)
Skateboarding scored high on low staging costs (but aren’t even a recognised national federation)
Sport Climbing has tripled in popularity in the past 3 years in Japan (how many sport climbers do you know?)
Surfing (an Olympic sport, really?)
If it’s true ...
If this is all true then Squash, which was actually voted onto the programme for London 2012 before being excluded in a controversial second vote, was on the IOC shortlist for 2016, and was on the IOC final shortlist of three for the 2020 Games (Wrestling are in, Baseball/Softball look to be in) is set to be snubbed again.
Worldwide spread, professional tours, low staging costs, ‘healthiest sport in the world’, lots of changes to rules and coverage ... all in vain, again ???
We’ll know on Monday ...
