N Ramachandran, the new president of the WSF, was introduced to Rogge by Jahangir Khan.

 

Khan, arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport having won the World Open six times and the British Open a record 10 times during a period when he was unbeaten for five years, had led an unsuccessful bid by squash to get included in the London 2012 Olympics.

 

Ramachandran had replaced Khan, who had been in the position since 2002, at the WSF annual meeting in Manchester last month.

 

During the visit, Ramachandran and Khan took the opportunity to present a commitment signed by top squash stars, led by world number ones, Malaysia's Nicol David and Egypt's Amr Shabana, pledging that the Olympics would be the ultimate prize for any squash player.

 

Squash is one of seven sports due to present for an hour tomorrow before the IOC's Olympic Programme Commission, setting out their plans to be included in the Games.

 

The other sports who will also be presenting are baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens and softball.

 

Squash narrowly failed to get elected onto the programme for London 2012 when, after baseball and softball were controversially axed from the Games, they were put forward, along with karate, for inclusion.

 

Unfortunately for them, they failed to obtain the two-thirds majority of the IOC members needed under the Olympic charter for the decision to be endorsed.

 

Following a change to the Olympic charter, the two-thirds majority needed for Olympic recognition has now been reduced to a simple majority.

 

A final decision will be made by the IOC at its Session in Copenhagen in October 2009, when they will also select the host city for the 2016 Olympics.