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After five unsuccessful bids, squash has secured its place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games—a watershed moment that will reshape the sport from grassroots programmes to the professional tour.
The International Olympic Committee formally approved LA28’s proposal in October 2023, adding squash alongside cricket, flag football, lacrosse and baseball/softball. The decision acknowledges squash’s global footprint (over 50 million recreational players) and its made-for-TV glass-court presentation.
Organisers have chosen Courthouse Square on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot—the set from Back to the Future and To Kill a Mockingbird—as the venue. Expect an outdoor all-glass court framed by movie-studio façades, nightly light shows and prime-time NBC coverage, giving squash its most cinematic showcase ever.
| Key Change | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Smaller Olympic draw (16 men + 16 women) | Qualification becomes fiercely competitive; every PSA ranking point counts. |
| Government & NOC funding unlocked | Many federations release Olympic-specific grants only once a sport joins the Games, supporting coaching, travel and sports-science services. |
| Visibility for junior pathways | Teenagers can now dream of Olympic medals, incentivising national junior circuits and collegiate programmes worldwide. |
| Calendar realignment | Expect PSA tour breaks in July 2028, plus new continental qualifiers—mirroring tennis’s model—so top athletes can peak for LA28. |
Wall-to-wall coverage – Mainstream broadcasters and Olympic streaming platforms will carry live matches, replays and behind-the-scenes features, making the sport easier to follow than ever before.
Spectacular atmosphere – The Universal Studios set offers tiered seating, giant screens and evening sessions under Hollywood lights, designed to captivate casual spectators.
Diversity on show – With only 32 total spots, qualification criteria will balance world ranking and continental representation, guaranteeing a truly global line-up.
Crossover appeal – Expect cross-promotions with other racket sports and social-media campaigns targeting fitness enthusiasts curious about a high-intensity, 30-minute match format.
Industry analysts predict a post-announcement “Olympic bump” similar to what climbing enjoyed before Tokyo 2020: increased court bookings, equipment sales and corporate sponsorship. National federations are already leveraging the news to secure municipal funding for new courts and community programmes—reversing years of participation decline.
Upgrade your game plan – If you’re chasing LA28, map out four-year training blocks with peak PSA events and regional qualifiers.
Join a certified programme – Juniors should look for academies now receiving Olympic-linked funding and sport-science support.
Volunteer or spectate early – Test events in 2027 will need line judges, ball kids and enthusiastic crowds. Sign-up lists go live on LA28’s site in early 2026.
Support local clubs – Increased foot traffic will strain aging facilities; membership fees and sponsorships can fund fresh courts and LED lighting.
Stay informed – Follow WSF, PSA and your national body on social channels for qualification rules, venue renderings and ticket drops.
Olympic inclusion won’t automatically solve every challenge—draw sizes remain tight, and access to courts varies by region—but it raises the sport’s ceiling. For players, it adds the ultimate medal to chase; for fans, it promises primetime squash on the world’s biggest athletic stage. Whether you’re stringing racquets, coaching minis or simply streaming matches at 3 a.m., the next three years will be squash’s fastest-moving era yet.
Now is the moment to grab a squash racket—or a front-row seat—and be part of history.
