Squash, played in 175 countries by over 20 million people, has made a strong case for itself by virtue of the fact that it can be easily integrated into the Olympic Games, wherever held, officials claim in their submission.

 

Requiring just two all-glass courts that can be located anywhere, it is an extremely cost effective and highly exciting spectator sport, they said.

 

The sport's top players have already signed a pledge to compete at the Olympic Games if selected.

 

The questionnaire also tries to highlight how squash can help take the Olympic into new markets as many of the sport’s top players hail from countries which do not traditionally produce medallists. 

 

The current world champions, officials point out come Egypt and Malaysia, countries who produced just two medals between them in Beijing last year.

 

Squash it narrowly missed out being included at the London 2012 Olympics when it failed to gain the necessary two-thirds majority at the IOC Session in Singapore to be included.

 

Scott Garrett, who is leading squash's bid to be included in the Olympics, said:  “We are delighted with the case for squash which we have put forward in our questionnaire responses and we are confident that we are able to present strong arguments in all areas.”

 

N Ramachandran, the president of the World Squash Federation, said:  “Our questionnaire response is a document of which we can all be very proud.”

 

Squash is one of seven sports seeking to gain election at the IOC Session in Copenhagen in October.

 

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