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The world of Squash is uniting to support the sport’s bid for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic programme with a massive worldwide festival on May 23rd.

The popular World Squash Day is being re-branded as Squash 2016 Day as National Federations all over the globe organise a massive programme of events.

Every squash club on the planet is being urged to throw open its doors to promote the sport and help the Olympic bid.

Squash 2016 Bid Team Member and former world champion Peter Nicol said: “Our ultimate aim is for every club in the world to open their doors on this one special day, to show people what a fantastic sport we have, to get media and personalities involved, and encourage new participants to take up the game.”

The event is endorsed by the World Squash Federation. World Squash Day founder Alan Thatcher explained: “This gives every squash club the opportunity to support two major objectives: to raise the profile of the sport and to raise valuable money for the Squash 2016 Bid Fund.

“The Olympic bid is an ambitious project which, if successful, will give squash a deserved place in the Olympic Games. That bid process is not cheap and it is up to every squash player to help the cause.”

Nicol added: “Squash 2016 Day is free to join and we look forward to seeing a massive response, with clubs and federations employing their creative powers to organise fantastic global festival of this brilliant game.”

Squash is played in 175 countries by more than 20 million people - men and women, young and old. Every player agrees that the Olympic Games would take the sport to a different level. Indeed, the world’s top men and women have all signed a pledge that they would compete in the Olympics. The Olympic Champion of Squash is a title that every player wants.

Furthermore, Squash can take the Olympic Games into new markets: Squash has world-class athletes from countries that do not traditionally produce Olympians. Thus, including squash in the Olympic Games will boost awareness of the Olympic Movement in these countries, and will also promote better funding for the development of the sport.