The 9th World Squash Coaching & Development Conference - which is sanctioned by the World Squash Federation, organised by Hong Kong Squash, and funded by the Hongkong Bank Foundation Continuing Coach Education Programme - has received extensive responses from all five continents.  

Next week's three-day conference, from 22-24 May, has attracted over 60 participants from 24 long-haul or short-haul countries/states to register their seats.  Coaches and sports administrators from Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, USA, Zimbabwe, and the host state Hong Kong will all meet together in the hub of Asia to exchange their ideas and experiences with each other.

Overseas guest speakers - including five-time World Squash Champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Squash New Zealand National Coach Anthony Ricketts, England Squash National Coach David Pearson, Head of Analysis of English Institute of Sport Stafford Murray and World Squash Referee Mrs Chris Sinclair - will join together with the Hong Kong local sports specialists to present an all-embracing Olympic-orientated conference on and off court. 

"This is an outstanding response by the Squash coaches and administrators from all over the world - and, especially as we approach the final stages of our 2016 Olympic bid campaign, it clearly shows that Squash is a truly universal sport," said Heather Deayton, WSF Vice President and Development & Coaching Committee Director. 

"World Squash congratulates Hong Kong Squash for providing this most opportune time for the conference participants to join together to increase their knowledge and explore new avenues of taking Squash another step closer to becoming an Olympic Games sport."

The conference will kick off on 22nd May 2009 with an Olympic update from the World Squash Federation, followed by sharing other professional knowledge in coaching, squash rules update, junior development systems, sports science, sports medicine, anti doping and marketing of squash.  It is anticipated that everyone involved will benefit greatly from this worthwhile assembly!