NICOL David reckons this week's revived British Open championships will provide an outstanding example of why the sport of squash has qualities uniquely designed for a successful Olympic bid.
Nicol, who achieved a record sixth World Open title in November, hopes to aim for an Olympic medal in 2020, and believes that the famous venue for this year's British Open shows why she may get that chance.
The O2 arena, with its 12 100-metre high masts, 70 kilometres of cabling, dramatic lighting and smoke reservoirs, claims to have overtaken Madison Squash Garden as the world's most popular entertainment venue.
It illustrates squash's unique claim that its courts can be erected within sight of any iconic landmark in any Olympic bidding city, such as the Sultan Ahmed mosque in Istanbul or the Royal Palace in Madrid.
"With this British Open being within a couple of months of the 2012 Olympics, and its location close to the Games' main stadium, it helps squash make its point," said Nicol. "This is a fantastic event, and the O2 is spectacular.
"We have to perform in a venue like this. I am talking to people at home and telling them about the event," said the remarkable Malaysian, who missed the Asian team championships in Kuwait in order to prepare for her bid to recapture the British Open title.
"I hear that tickets are already sold out for the later stages. And there will be a lot of tourists. It is attracting many people."
Nicol also feels squash has improved its Olympic bid from the one of three years ago.
On that occasion the sport came the closest to getting into the 2016 Games in Rio without actually doing so, finishing third behind golf and rugby sevens, the two successful new entrants.
"We are doing a lot more than then," Nicol continued. "We are improving ourselves with the way we run the bid. We have been bringing in innovations and more spectators, and developing TV personalities.
"Hopefully this will all generate media interest around the world. And bring closer my dream of getting to go to the Olympics. Hopefully too it will be heard by the IOC, because it's a campaign which needs to be addressed."
Nicol, the highest profile woman squash player of all time, emphasises that if squash does earn an Olympic place in next year's vote, she will try to remain in top shape for it, even though by the time it happens she will be 37.
If she does, she may be able to maintain her career for almost as long as Heather McKay, the legendary Australian who won the World Open championship in Sheffield in 1979 at the age of 38.
"I'm certainly going on for a few years yet," insisted Nicol. "I still believe this dream might come true."
Nicol played Mexico's Samantha Terran in the third round of the British Open late yesterday.
Wednesday's 2nd round results -- Men: Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy) bt Adrian Grant (Eng) 12-10, 11-4, 11-8, Amr Shabana (Egy) bt Olli Tuominen (Fin) 12-10, 11-4, 11-4, Ramy Ashour (Egy ) bt Borja Golan (Spa) 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-1, 11-6; Women: Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt Donna Urquhart (Aus) 11-2, 11-13, 11-4, 12-10, Annie Au (HK) bt Alison Waters (Eng) 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7, Nour El Sherbini (Egy) bt Madeline Perry (Ire) 11-6, 4-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, Raneem El Weleily (Egy) bt Dipika Pallikal (Ind) 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7. AFP
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