In a worldwide festival of squash, the day began with rock star Phil Buscke of The Datsuns performing a bungee jump live on television from Auckland Harbour Bridge in New Zealand and continued with an amazing array of events as Squash 2016 Day moved through the various time-zones.

 

Leading professionals lent their support to the bid by joining in hundreds of Olympic-themed events.

 

The biggest event of the day was held in the United States at the Apawamis Club in Rye, New York, where squash legends Jonathon Power, David Palmer and John White took part in a 100-a-side Battle of the Border fixture.

 

The trio – all former world number ones, from Canada, Australia and Scotland, respectively - were joined by US number ones Julian Illingworth and Natalie Grainger, plus fellow pros from around the world including Colombian Bernardo Samper; Brazilian Rafael Alarcon; Australians Raj Nanda, Ryan Cuskelly, Mark Price, Kasey Brown, Lisa Camilleri and Narelle Krizek; Scotsman Stuart Crawford; and English players Phil Barker, Suzie Pierrepont, Chris Walker, John Russell and Mike Ferreira.

 

Grainger, the world number two, said: "It was fantastic to see so many leading players supporting the event and more than 500 people came through the club's doors on the day.

 

"The event raised money for the bid, showcased squash in the most positive way and helped to raise the profile of the sport."

 

From the professionals of North America, through Europe and Asia to the townships of Soweto in South Africa, thousands of children were entertained to free coaching lessons and a vivid introduction to squash on a very special day for the sport which boasts 20 million players across all five continents.

 

In Hong Kong the ninth World Squash Coaching & Development Conference kicked off with speakers and delegates welcoming Timothy Fok, a member of the International Olympic Committee and President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, who delivered an encouraging speech to all the participants of the conference in support of World Squash Day.

 

Delegates included World Squash Federation (WSF) vice-president Gerard DeCourcy and Hong Kong Squash chairman David Mui - as well leading figures from the sport including legendary Australians Geoff Hunt, the eight-time British Open champion, and record five times World Open champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald.

 

Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo - three of the cities bidding to host the 2016 Olympics - held special events throughout the day.

 

As well as open days at every squash club, enthusiasts took to the streets in numbers to be photographed waving their Squash For 2016 banners at prime locations in each city.

 

 

In London enterprising student James Poole showed his passion for squash by hiring a London bus to tour the city and stop off for photographs at the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace.

 

Leading the party on the iconic red London double-decker bus were three of the sport's up-and-coming stars - Joe Lee, the British under-19 champion, Charles Sharpes, the British under-17 champion, and Charlie Lee, the England under-10 number one - all of whom could be in their prime by 2016.

 

Joe Lee said: "I was delighted to have been involved in World Squash Day and the campaign to get Squash its rightful place in the Olympic Games.

 

"The sport deserves the global recognition and extra benefits that would come from Olympic inclusion - and it would be a huge honour for me to, one day, compete for my country in the world's greatest sporting event."

 

Squash is one of seven sports hoping to be elected to the Games in 2016.

 

The others are baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens and softball.