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Al-Ahram Weekly 22 - 28 April 1999 Issue No. 426 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 22 - 28 April 1999 Issue No. 426
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Special Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Squash in 2004?
By Eman Abdel-Moeti
THANKS to Egypt, the non-Olympic sport of squash might make its long-awaited debut at the 2004 Games.
With its unique setting -- the squash glass court on a small island across from the Marriott Hotel -- the women's squash Grand Prix Finals here in Hurghada was quite impressive, so much so that the game might soon become an official Olympic sport. That's the word from Andrew Shelly, director of the Women's International Squash Professionals Association (WISPA). Shelly told the Weekly that the site, plus the Al-Ahram Organisation's support for squash, are some of the major reasons the game could make it to the 2004 Games.
Squash officials did not want to wait even that long. Shelly met three weeks ago with the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Juan Antonio Samaranch, in a bid to include squash in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. But with the Olympics just a little over a year away, the effort came a bit too late. Squash is also cash-strapped, another obstacle which needs to be removed.
Still, Shelly presented a strong case for the game, especially the women's events. "We have world championships, we are members in the Commonwealth Games, we have continental competitions -- including the Grand Prix which comprises 10 tournaments -- and our members come from 160 countries," Shelly told Samaranch.
Samaranch and other IOC officials were impressed. Shown a video of the Grand Prix Finals in Hurghada staged last year, the spectacular venue indicated to them that big money can be raised by playing in similar venues in Egypt, a renowned tourist country.
Being given Al-Ahram's gift from Mr Ibrahim Nafie, chairman of the board of Al-Ahram Establishment photos: Hossame Diab
"We really appreciate Al-Ahram's support for squash which is demonstrated in Al-Ahram International by the Pyramids and the Grand Prix Finals in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada," Shelly told the Weekly. According to the WISPA director, Samaranch asked to come in person to attend the Al-Ahram International in September. "With Samaranch in Cairo, we will have a great opportunity to promote and publicise women's squash. It will also be a good chance for Al-Ahram to promote and market Egypt as a tourist attraction worldwide," Shelly said.
Because many of the world's best squash players are Australian, including WISPA President Sarah Fitz-Gerald, this year's world champion, and the world's top female player Michelle Martin, Shelly and other WISPA officials tried mightily to get the sport registered in Sydney.
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