Squash at LA28: The Historic Olympic Debut and Glass Court Revolution

Squash, which originated in 19th-century Britain and has been enjoyed by tens of millions of people worldwide, has long been excluded from the Olympic Games, the pinnacle of international sports.

After 15 years of perseverance since the London Olympics, it has finally been added as an official sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

In this article, we provide an in-depth look at the story behind this revolution—which overcame numerous setbacks to pry open the door to the Olympics—and the latest developments regarding the Japanese national team as they aim for a historic medal at the Los Angeles Games.

A Series of Setbacks: Why Was It Never Included in the Olympics Until Now?

Squash’s bid for Olympic inclusion has been nothing but a series of disappointments and setbacks. Since the start of the 21st century alone, it has made it to the final shortlist for four consecutive Games—London, Rio, Tokyo, and Paris—only to lose out to other sports each time.

The IOC’s main concerns regarding squash were as follows:

The ball is not visible

In a small, enclosed space surrounded on all sides by walls, where players hit a small black rubber ball back and forth at speeds exceeding 200 km/h, it was difficult for viewers to follow the rally using the broadcasting technology of the past.

The opaque walls also severely limited camera angles.

It was difficult to determine the outcome of points.

Because the athletes share the same space, calls such as “let” (a do-over) occur frequently. This can be confusing for first-time viewers, and the calls have been criticized as subjective.

The IOC isn’t making any money

The IOC has been looking to increase the number of sports that generate substantial broadcasting rights fees, and squash—whose fan base is skewed toward the wealthy—has long been considered unprofitable.

Against this backdrop, golf and rugby were selected to replace squash at the Rio Games.

The “Grass Court Revolution” that opened the door to the Olympics

Amid a string of defeats, the world of squash underwent a dramatic transformation. Through the power of technology, it turned its greatest weakness—the difficulty of seeing the ball—into its greatest appeal.

The Court Revolution: “Contra Vision”

Using a technology that fuses microscopic ceramic dots onto tempered glass, a “magic glass court” has been created that appears as a solid wall to players but remains transparent to spectators and cameras.

Combined with LED panels embedded in the floor and the latest camera technology, squash has undergone a dramatic evolution, transforming from a “sport played in a box” into a futuristic and dynamic “spectator sport.”

The ability to transform global landmarks into “stadiums”

Leveraging the flexibility of glass courts—which can be set up on any flat surface—tournaments have been held at landmarks around the world, including in front of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and in the heart of New York’s Grand Central Station, where hundreds of thousands of people pass through every day.

This “Instagram-worthy” presentation made a strong impression on young people and the IOC.

For the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the plan to set up a special venue at Universal Studios Hollywood has also been highly praised.

Furthermore, the sport’s efficiency—said to burn twice as many calories as badminton and three times as many as tennis in just 30 minutes—and its “great value for time,” with matches typically lasting about an hour, perfectly align with the needs of today’s viewers.

These temporary glass squash courts, which can be set up anywhere, embody the “Radical reuse” of the Los Angeles Olympics, which involves constructing no new venues whatsoever. Click here to see the full picture of the ultra-sustainable Games that LA28 is aiming for.

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The Power Dynamics of the Squash World

With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, excitement is building in the global squash community.

Egypt in the lead, with the U.K. and the U.S. in hot pursuit

Egypt currently reigns supreme in the world of squash.

Egypt, the dominant power, is running away with the competition.

As a squash superpower that dominates the top three spots in the world rankings for both men and women, Egypt boasts a depth of talent that is unmatched by any other nation.

Egyptian players rely not only on their phenomenal physical abilities but also on “creative shots” that defy their opponents’ expectations by making use of wrist movement and wall angles.

The pursuit by the UK and the US

In addition to the United Kingdom, a traditional powerhouse, the United States—the host nation—has seen its junior player base grow by approximately threefold, and with the formation of a massive ecosystem centered around college sports, it is rapidly catching up to Egypt.

Witness a historic moment in a transparent coat at Universal Studios!
Be sure to book your hotel and flights early for the LA Olympics.