No Squash in the Olympics - why ???

[Mark TKO]

I play squash 3-4 times a week. Have done for several years. I couldn't tell you who the current world champion is mind, nor have I ever watched it on tv, and for any squash question that ever may come up in a quiz my answer will always be either 'Jahangir Khan' or 'Jansher Khan' - because thats what they used to do on Question of Sport in the 80s.

Anyway I have often wondered why it is snubbed at the olympics and not allowed in . It has to be one of the most physically demanding ball games around. You hear arguments like its not very tv friendly for excitement, viewers have trouble seeing the ball etc.. ? But can anyone tell me Sailing is fun to watch, pistol shooting , dressage ?? Seems like squash gets hard done by to me. And as for not being able to see the ball, well I have never to this day seen the puck go in the goal watching ice hockey on TV - the organsist is the guy who lets me know it's 'in there !'

I could keep listing sports liek handball, water polo etc.. that are in but won't - personally I have a problem with any event that leaves it in the hands of the judges (though respect the gymnasts, divers etc as true dedicated sportsmen) but little can be done about that.

Anyway i've gone on as all I wanted to do was post a link to this article thats on the BBC today saying more or less the same thing.

Thoughts ? Hello ?

BBC Sport - Olympics Synchronised swimming: Sport or Strictly Sub-Aqua?

[ryanman]

Yeah I do not see any legitimate reason to exclude Squash whilst including performance art such as Synchronised Swimming.

[Andre]

I think the gay olympdics has it.

[Memphis]

I watched a bit of the pistol shooting

It wasnt until it had completely finished that I got brief glimpse of the targets. I think they are 25m away from the targets, the adience are another 5m or so behind the shooters so they cant see fuck all. It could be completely made up, they might not have been firing bullets at all.

At least in the traps you can see the clay come out and a puff of pink powder.

Yeah Ice hockey could be completley made up too. I wonder how long it would take for someone to realise if they just dispensed with the puck?

[Mark TKO]

was in Canada a few years ago and got talking to a couple of guys in a bar (no it wasn't a bummers bar before people crack that gag) re ice hockey and football back home etc...

Not sure how much truth in it, maybe some US or Canadians can answer, but one of them said they had experimented with a luminous flashing puck one season so the viewers could see the puck ??

Apparently it didn't go down well with the players though and they stopped it ??

[Master]

Mark TKO would want darts and snooker in next.