From Yorkshire Evening Post
Court Side with James Willstrop
03 June 2008

SQUASH OUT IN THE COLD IN BEIJING - Like many people around the world this summer I will be interested to see how things pan out in Beijing.  I find it refreshing to be able to turn on the TV at peak time and see a sport like synchronised diving.

I, for one, am sick to death of the predictability of the sports coverage on television and this will be a time when all sports are covered on terrestrial TV – and quite rightly too.

Although the Olympic regime supports many sports, it doesn't support squash, amongst other deserving activities such as karate and rugby sevens.

I would say the question I am most asked is why isn't squash an Olympic sport?

Well, the answer is that I have no idea. It seems like it's a sport that would fill all the criteria.  It is a true test in that it demands all the aspects of skill and fitness. It is popular, would be easy to stage and many countries worldwide play the sport.

Every other racket sport is on the Olympic list, yet not squash.

Yes, the TV production would need a makeover, but this could be achieved with both resources and effort.

The game hasn't been, and is unlikely to be, tarnished by drugs because of the skill aspect (although I don't want to tempt fate) and so it would add some much-needed stability to an occasion affected by ever-increasing numbers of drug cheats.

The biggest disappointment we had was when squash failed to get into the 2012 London Olympics when the voting was carried out in Singapore in 2005.  Many of us believed we had an extra chance of getting voted on as the sport is so strong in the UK and chances of winning medals would be high.

The annoying thing is that squash players would give everything to compete at an Olympic Games.

I enjoy tennis and I am inspired by Roger Federer but it's fairly clear to see that, looking back over the last few Games, the Olympics is not at the top of the men's priority list.

The same goes for football. Great Britain don't even field a side, so it seems it can't mean that much.

This hurts the squash players because every world player would turn up and play for their lives. Just being there would be a pleasure and a privilege.

It makes me cynical when such rich sports are in the programme and some deserving minority sports aren't.

Perhaps there are reasons for the IOC to include high-profile sports and if this is the case then it is wrong.

I can't say I have ever heard one valid explanation from the governing body saying why squash can't be added to the Olympic programme, especially with so many other sports taking the TV spotlight in Beijing this summer.

So I feel bad that my Olympic dream is quite possibly over, as by the next Olympics when squash could be included, in 2016, I will be far too old.

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Time Leeds entered the arena
From Yorkshire Evening Post
Court Side with James Willstrop

There was an exciting development for professional squash players this week as we are in a new venue in a new city.

The opportunity to see a new place doesn't present itself too often as the tournaments on the tour are long standing and usually played in the same places.

So where is the new place? Liverpool!

Not as glamorous as you thought. Well, maybe not, but it has been well publicised that Liverpool is the European Capital of Culture this year and it's doing its best to show off some of this culture.

And so this week's dose of culture for the city is in squash's hands, as it provides the setting for the British Open Championships, the Wimbledon of squash, at the new and futuristic Echo Arena – which is an excellent venue.

It led me to thinking about settings for sports and the cities that host events. As a squash professional I am very grateful for the support of cities like Manchester, Sheffield and now Liverpool for their support of squash, and indeed many other sports.

Manchester has the Commonwealth Games legacy at the City of Manchester Stadium, providing exceptional facilities for athletes.

This year alone it is holding the world cycling, squash and swimming championships, as well as the UEFA Cup final between Glasgow Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.

Sheffield is synonymous with snooker, of course, but hosts a number of other sporting events. Both Manchester and Sheffield have arenas for concerts and sporting events.

Without knowing too much about how these things work, I can't help but think that Leeds is way behind in this respect, as much as I love the place.

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