LONDON, July 5: Jahangir Khan, President of World Squash Federation (WSF), along with other officials of the federation, have met the IOC Sports Director Christophe Dubi in Athens to discuss squash’s bid to join the programme for the 2016 Olympic Games.

The meeting was called by the IOC sports department with the objective of appraising the next steps regarding the 2008-09 review process and providing short-listed international federations the opportunity to ask questions on the process or other topics.

According to a WSF news release, the federation was asked to name competitions that the Programme Commission should visit as part of the Observation Programme.

Invitations will be extended to the 2008 men and women’s World Opens in Manchester in October.

The presentations from short-listed international federations to the Executive Board will be made on June 15 and 16, 2009, in Lausanne, the IOC headquarters.

Meanwhile, Jahangir was honoured at a touching ‘Spirit of Sport’ award ceremony during the course of the Annual General Meeting of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) in Athens, at which 83 international federations and other international organisations were represented.

The award recognises those who, through their unique commitment and humanitarian spirit, have made an exceptional and lasting contribution to the pursuit of sports excellence, sportsmanship and sport participation.

Jahangir received the 2008 GAISF Award from GAISF President Hein Verbruggen alongside World Chess Federation (FIDE) Honorary President Florencio Campomanes and International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) President of the Acrobatic Gymnastics Technical Committee Patricia Wade.

It was also announced that former world champion along with Emeritus President Susie Simcock would attend the Beijing Olympics on behalf of WSF.

—APP