Jonathon Power has a vision. His dream is to develop the sport of squash in his home country of Canada, both at the elite and grass roots levels.
His dream is soon going to become a reality.
The Sports Junkie caught up with Power at Downsview Park in Toronto, the future home of the National Squash Academy, set to open in September 2010. The academy is the brainchild of Power’s – still the only North American player EVER to claim Squash’s World #1 ranking. He has dedicated the last four years of his life – since retiring from professional squash in ‘06 – to bringing this unique facility to fruition.
Squash’s biggest challenge moving forward is gaining acceptance into sport’s mainstream. But it’s apparent that Power’s vision for the growth of squash in the future differs from those of the sport’s governing body, the World Squash Federation (WSF).
After years of lobbying, the WSF suffered a big blow to their hopes of gaining international notoriety for their sport, with the news back in August of last year that Squash was rejected by the IOC for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games.
Power Remains Dedicated To The Development of Squash In Canada
Power doesn’t necessarily see this Olympic snub as a setback. Sure, showcasing the sport on the grandest of stages would offer unparalleled exposure for squash. But Power’s no fool – he fully understands that the IOC – who selected golf and rugby over squash for inclusion at the ‘16 Summer Games – is more about seeking professionals and their ability to solicit big bucks. According to the former World #1, “the Olympics are a money-making business. It’s not based on amateur sport or anything like that. It’s about getting golf and rugby and making some cash off some new sports. That’s their new mandate, I guess. And squash doesn’t necessarily fit into that mold.”
Power sees even greater long-term gains for the game by putting money and resources into growing and teaching the sport at the local and national levels. It’s a belief he wholly subscribes to, as evidenced by his commitment toward the creation of Canada’s first ever national squash centre. And who knows – maybe his new squash academy will be instrumental in developing the next North American-born World #1 player.
There’s certainly power in that.
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very true… Olympics are all about the cake. I like the direction Power’s heading in – developing the sport at the grass roots level is key to future success. Not every sport needs to have IOC approval to make them great. Squash is one of them. Just an amazing game to play, be it competitively or recreational. Go Power Go.
100 favourite vegetables… ha ha. Would’ve liked to see Power snap on you TSJ. You were cruisin’…
Wonderful interview.
Mom
We love you Power! Now if only we could get a Power type guy to run our soccer program in Canada maybe we could get somewhere.
Hey, what’s this mom comment? I thought this was a sports blog. You still living at home TSJ? LOL
Don’t be knockin’ my mom, Red Wings. Or you’ll be the one cruisin’ for a bruisin’…
I think it’s time for you to get your own place TSJ. Everybody loves mom’s cooking but you are grown adult.
Fantastic to see Jonathon accomplish something very few people in squash are able to do … build a NEW squash facility. How many new courts have been built in Canada in the past 5, 10 years?