Olympic Presentation

[Deep Boast]

So hang on a minute, is tomorrow really decision day ?

The seven candidate sports have an hour each to present their case in Lausanne, and the eight-man committee will prepare a report fro the Copenhagen meeting next year.

Didn't we all think Copenhagen was the main deal ? What was that "countdown to Copenhagen" thing the WSF launched in Manchester ? Surely the IOC will just go with what tomorrow's committee say ? Or did I miss something ?

If I didn't isn't it all coming a bit quickly, didn't we think we had a year to prepare the case ???

[Guest]

Well if tomorrow really is decision day, the WSF didn't realise it last month:

** wsf press release during World Open in Manchester **

Countdown to Copenhagen

Squash is one of seven sports which have been short-listed by the IOC for consideration for the 2016 Games - the decision for which will be made in Copenhagen in October 2009.

Jahangir Khan outlined the sport's Olympic credentials and the timetable of the bid process over the next twelve months.

"We have a year to ensure that we do what needs to be done to get Squash into the Olympics. All parties have to work closely, with everybody pushing hard to try to do their best to make this happen," said the six-time world champion and record ten times British Open winner.

**

looks like they might have had a few weeks, not a year ............

[Guest]

Yes it does look a bit rushed - everyone seemed to be assuming that there was a year's campaigning to go. I remember the WSF putting out a "countdown to Copenhagen" a few weeks ago.

Maybe tomorrow is just one step in the process, although it seems logical that if the IOC goes to the trouble of asking the sports to present their cases to a committee, then the findings of that committee will probably have a big influence on the final decision.

[Fred]

Without doubt the WSF will have all the timelines locked, in place and ready to go. Susie Simcock is an extremely efficent and expert operator and will ensure that no stone has been unturned, all will have been soundly shaken. The ground work for the bid will have been done months ago, with the countdown to Copenhagen being just terminology. Be safe in the knowledge that everything that needs to be done will be done, it will ultimately come down to politics again as it is taken from WSF's hands in into those of the Olympic committee.

Dave Clarke

[ianball]

It could be a god thing, some of te other seven sports don't have the history that squash does so another year for them to build on their popularity will close the gap on squash.

I watched inside sport a few weeks ago and it had a thing on the Olympic sports and squash although listed wasn't mentioned and didn't get a little video slot by an important person to say why it should be included. Roller sports did which is a probaly American gold.

The job at this committee is probably to state the case now and then in Copenhagen to show where it has gone from now to then.

I remember Jhangir saying that squash wasrealy global and due to the ease of setting up courts anywhere it is a really amazing venue sport. I think the fact of particpation across the top mens 32 is a great advertisement for the game, Italians, Egyptians, French, English, Pakistani, Malaysian, Holland, Australia, Scottish, Spanish, Finnish, Canada and Columbians, that's a great spread for a tournament. 2016 is along way away though.

If countries were only able to send one entry ineach event then who would be the Egyptian entry or the English. It's something the players want and I think would be exciting to see. No one likes to loose and imagine being picked to play for your country above everyone else and getting to the final knowing they are watcing, it would be well tense!



Ian B.

[stevecubs]

Today's presentation does seem to be quite important, but the main article points out the following timescale ...

THE BID PROCESS AND TIME SCALE
 
October 2008 -IOC Observers Sir Craig Reedie and Pierre Ducrey at the World Championships

November 2008 - All candidate sports present to the Olympic Programme Commission in Lausanne

December 2008 to March 2009 - ·Detailed questionnaire to be completed

April 2009 - Olympic Programme Commission report preparation

June 2009 - Presentation of the Olympic Programme Commission report to IOC Executive Board, Presentation by selected IFs to the IOC Executive Board;

October 2009 - Executive Board proposal submitted to IOC session in Copenhagen


So it looks as though, as long as it doesn't go horribly wrong today, there's another presentation in June.

[stanton]

Could they not have produced something a bit (alot,alot,lot) more professional as opposed to a Powerpoint presentation that a 5yr old kid could of made at school ?

Its a bloody disgrace.

[tammer]

I agree, the powerpoint presentation sends a message to the committee our lack of seriousness/preparation and the guys at the WSF just got someone to quickly throw something together in time to present to the Olympic committee. Surely there must be someone in the squash world who could have gotten in touch with a decent advertising agency to get something more than a mere powerpoint presentation done. Hopefully this won't be the only piece of material they will be presenting. If it is then seriously, Its pathetic!

[ianball]

I think the presentation is pretty good, it may not be super flashy but then it sells the good points of squash which should be attractive to the Olympic commisson who I imagine will see it presentation for its content not anything else.
I like the medal table, 6 different nations across all 6 medals.

Doesn't mention doubles though. I wonder if that is a part of the bid or not?

Ian B.

[Deep Boast]

It took me a while to work out that it was the top three in the rankings on that medal table - for a while I was looking at previous world finals and it didn't seem to make sense ........ silly me!

But it does look as though doubles isn't included - thank heavens, anyone who remembers watching that in Melbourne will heave a sigh of relief.

But, with only two allowed for each country, based on ranking, then if entries closed now the current men's world champion wouldn't be eligible ....... mmmmmmmmmmm

[stanton]

Maybe I missed it but the WSF seem to have a much better professional looking video now

http://squash2016.info/squash_2016_video

[paul8241]

I don't like it.

The fake squash ball sound and the money wheel noise at the start annoyed me straight away. Then all the camera clicking, what is that about, not squash!! The fact that they don't show any quality squash rallies suggests they didn't watch many matches or highlight videos to find them. The images and telecast should be crystal clear, not fuzzy with the ball difficult to see like in the ladies tournament. I thought that Jean De Lierre has a better promotion video for his telimage productions.

watch "join the Momentum" http://www.squashlive.com/television.php

I wish he had been given the job.

[stanton]

I don't like it.

The fake squash ball sound and the money wheel noise at the start annoyed me straight away. Then all the camera clicking, what is that about, not squash!! The fact that they don't show any quality squash rallies suggests they didn't watch many matches or highlight videos to find them. The images and telecast should be crystal clear, not fuzzy with the ball difficult to see like in the ladies tournament. I thought that Jean De Lierre has a better promotion video for his telimage productions.

watch "join the Momentum" http://www.squashlive.com/television.php

I wish he had been given the job.

Yes Nice Production.

Im no expert I was just trying to say that the WSF video was a bit better than there original powerpoint presentation.

[paul8241]

Yeah, definitely better then Powerpoint, but didn't create any suspense like a great rally. That's what would sell squash, and the facts would just reinforce it.

[stanton]

Agreed.