Squash has been officially confirmed as a medal sport at next year’s European Games in Türkiye, where it will form part of the Olympic Qualification System for LA 2028.
Next year’s event in Istanbul will be the fourth edition of the European Games, taking place from 16th to 27th June. Squash will be making its debut, with the competition venue, qualification criteria and format to be announced in due course.
Founded in 2015, the European Games is a multi-sport event held every four years, contested by athletes from National Olympic Committees within the European Olympic Committees (EOC).
The squash competition in Istanbul will take place over five days and will double up as the 2027 edition of the ESF European Individual Closed Championships (EICC).
France’s Victor Crouin has won the men’s EICC title for the last three years while Belgium’s Tinne Gilis has won three of the last four women’s EICC titles. Currently Great Britain’s Joel Makin and Gina Kennedy are the top-ranked European players in the PSA World Rankings.
The men’s and women’s squash gold medal winners in Istanbul will secure a guaranteed place in the draw at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (provided they are in the top 50 of the PSA world rankings on 22 May 2028).
The European Squash Federation (ESF) will be running the squash competition in Türkiye.
ESF President Thomas Troedsson said: “We are so proud to introduce squash into the European Games. The momentum and excitement are building ahead of our sport’s Olympic debut and Istanbul 2027 will be a key milestone in the build-up to Los Angeles.”
William Louis-Marie, Chief Executive Officer at World Squash, commented: “It’s a great moment for squash as our sport prepares for its European Games debut. Squash has a proud history within multi-sport Games and we’re looking forward to supporting the European Squash Federation, the EOC Executive Committee and the Istanbul 2027 Organising Committee to ensure squash’s debut is a spectacular event for athletes and fans alike.”
EOC President Spyros Capralos said: “We are pleased to welcome squash into the European Games. It is a significant moment for the sport, which continues to grow in popularity across Europe. Following its debut at the European Games in 2027, squash will also be included in the Olympic Games in 2028. We’re happy to see squash continue its European Olympic journey with inclusion in Istanbul 2027 and look forward to watching all the action.”
