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Khan Leads Olympic Fight |
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By Alan Thatcher
Contributing Editor
JAHANGIR KHAN was arguably the greatest player in the history of squash.
This week he faces some of the toughest battles of his life, but this time off the court, not on it.
As president of the World Squash Federation, he is in Beijing to spearhead the sport's lobbying campaign for a place in the Olympic Games.
Accompanied by former presidents Prince Tunku Imran, from Malaysia, and Susie Simcock, from New Zealand, he will be pressing the flesh and attending a round of meetings designed to promote the case for squash's inclusion in the Games schedule in 2016.
Ironically, their visit comes at a time when the World Squash Federation is at a crossroads. Following the surprise and sudden departure of general secretary Christian Leighton, the WSF must also face up to the imminent conclusion of Khan's term as president (squash360 coverage).
The overriding priority for the WSF is obvious: to appoint leaders who can deliver the Olympic dream.
The recruitment process, and likely rewards package on offer to the successful recipient, will determine the calibre of the candidates for the general secretary's job.
We look forward with intense interest to seeing the drama unfold.
LOBBYING BID GOES LARGE
An unusual venue for the Olympic lobbying process is the McDonald's restaurant on the Beijing Olympic Green. Representatives from many of the new sports campaigning for a place in the 21016 Olympics have been invited to a power breakfast being staged there tomorrow. In between the pancakes, hash browns and coffees, delegates will be given the platform to press the case for their sport to attract the necessary votes.
Leaders of golf, squash, baseball and softball have been invited to the function being hosted by the influential Around the Rings website.
According to the website, invitations have been issued to all seven eligible federations: baseball, golf, karate, roller sport, rugby, softball and squash.
As well as Jahangir, other key guests will include International Golf Federation's Ty Votaw, International Softball Federation's Don Porter and International Baseball Federation president Harvey Schiller. The host is Ed Hula, editor of Around the Rings. Journalists will be invited to the breakfast, so we look forward to reading the reviews as they emerge.
The venue is the biggest McDonald's in the world, covering some 2,000 square metres.
A future breafast, hosted by the same company on August 23, will feature the four cities campaigning for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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