Social media support boosting squash in final stages of 2020 campaign

By Nick Butler in Buenos Aires

September 2 - Squash 2020 has welcomed surging worldwide support across social media platform's due to it providing an all important build-up of momentum at this late stage of the sport's attempt to be included in the 2020 Olympics.

Squash will go head to head with wrestling and a combined baseball/softball bid for one slot in a vote which will be held here on September 8 as part of the 125th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session.

Although wrestling remains the bookmakers favourite squash has profited from this substantial social media support which has included 153,000 views on a YouTube film entitled "Back the Bid."

The Squash 2020 Facebook page has also experienced a 21 per cent boost in "likes" over the last seven days while a @Vote4Squash Twitter account is closing in on 10,000 followers.

British tennis star Andy Murray - who is currently seeking a successful defence of the US Open - is one of many sporting figures to have backed squash's campaign on social media

The bid will be hoping that this social media support, as well as backing from established sporting figures like Andy Murray, will be transformed into votes from IOC members.

The support has come from across the globe, including from places as far afield as Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, and this highlights the sport's global appeal and popularity across all ages and languages, it is claimed.

"Digital and social media is a great platform to engage and bring people together and it is fantastic to see the growing number of people from around the world supporting Squash 2020 online," said World Squash Federation President Narayana Ramachandran.

"Once again, this highlights squash's commitment to innovation and the sport's growing appeal to young people as a fast, exciting and dynamic sport," he added.