WSF President N.Ramachandran has expressed the sadness of World Squash at the passing of Juan Antonio Samaranch, former President of the IOC.
“President Samaranch changed the IOC beyond recognition,” said Ramachandran. “One major step forward was the great increase in the number of recognised Sports. We as WSF were once welcomed by him as we started on the long road to try to become an Olympic medal sport.
“He visited our facilities during the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, and showed a great interest in the developments centred around the all-glass court, with its now proven TV potential. Most of all, he established the firm financial foundations of the IOC, recognising and embracing the inevitable end of the division between amateur and professional, and through this providing assistance to very many more Sports.
“His legacy will surely be that of the creator of the modern IOC, unrecognisable from 20 years ago, now even with a permanent observer at the United Nations, showing just how important a force sport is in this modern world.”