IT may be eight years away but squash officials are excited about the prospect of Bermuda being represented in squash at the 2012 Olympic Games. And with Bermuda now firmly placed on the world squash map by being the hosts to the best players on the planet at the annual Bermuda Open as well as the World Championships in 2007, the island's Director of Squash, Ross Triffitt, can envision the island's best youngsters vying for a place on the 2012 Olympic team.

Although the International Olympic Committee have not said they will definitely include squash in the 2012 Games, Triffitt said it looks like a sure bet.

"Squash is played in 153 nations and it is one of the fastest, most athletic and skilful sports in the world," he said adding that every top squash player in the world would compete in the 2012 Olympics if eligible.

"Squash is also played in most regional and sub-regional multi-sport games such as the Asian Games, All Africa Games, Pan American Games and the Commonwealth Games. There are five sports which are under consideration for the 2012 Olympics ? squash, rugby, golf, karate and roller sports and I would say that squash is one of the favourites."

And why shouldn't Bermuda send a player to the 2012 Games? After all, as Triffitt points out: "We have over 500 members here at the club (The Bermuda Squash Racquets Association in Devonshire). We have received all sorts of accolades from the world governing body with regards to having the highest participation rate in the world per capita. And it is also recognised that we have the best run junior programme in the world. We are excited about how well things have been going on the island."

Triffitt, a native of Australia who came to Bermuda five years ago as the squash professional, said he can only see the youth programme getting better and better.

"Our youth programme has been going on for many years now and it is constantly getting stronger and stronger. We have already seen two players come through the ranks and turn professional ? Nick Kyme and James Stout. And we see a lot of other talent coming through. We have some of the best players in the Caribbean in our Under-13 age category so it is a very promising for the future. A number of these good young players who are in the Under-13 category will be 20 or 21 when the 2012 Olympics come around. I think we will have some excellent candidates for the Bermuda 2012 Olympic squad."

Those youngsters have also been inspired by Nick Kyme and James Stout. "They are very inspired by watching how Nick and James have been doing ? they get to rub shoulders with them on a regular basis. Although Nick is based overseas part time and James is based overseas full time, they still come back regularly. Nick and James are Bermudian role models competing at the highest level.

And now every summer top pros come to Bermuda for training. "We have top players coming out such as David Palmer who is a resident here and he brings out people like Jonathan Power as he did last summer. Then we have our international summer camps which bring players from the US and Canada out to train and we bring in international coaches. All that combined has a great affect on our young players."

Triffitt said that with Kyme and Stout taking on the best in the world in pro tourneys, he could see more young players getting very serious about the sport.

"We also will have had eight Bermuda Opens and one World Championship played here before the 2012 Games ? we really should see a swelling of the ranks of junior squash players. It is very encouraging," he added.

Of two promising players, Triffitt said: "Well there are a number but Chris Stout and Jeffrey Olson are probably the two standouts." Chris Stout is the younger brother of pro James Stout and plays in the Under-13 division. "He has already decided to become a professional," said Triffitt. At the 2012 Games Triffitt said there would be a limited entry of two players from each nation. "Eight of the top 10 players would be there as well as the national champions from other countries. I would imagine 30 different countries would be competing."

Each week the Devonshire club sees 200-300 junior players coming through its doors.

"We also have our schools programme, junior programme and our junior membership which is heavily subsidised by senior members. We offer a constructive programme for the juniors. We introduce them to the game and there are camps and the club programmes and then on to national and international tournaments. We teach squash to a junior over 6,000 times a year," said Triffitt.

In fact the development of squash, particularly among the youth, has been so strong in recent years that Triffitt said it has led to the problem of spreading themselves a little thin.

"We have had 13 schools in our programme ? a good mix of Government and private schools. We are finding it a bit difficult to go out to the schools now so we encourage them to come here (to the club)."

In the Caribbean Championships Bermuda have won the Under-13 girls, Under-15 boys and have had a top four finish in the Under-13 boys. "We have had Caribbean champions for many years," said Triffitt.

However the club will be losing their professional Gary Plumstead any day now. "He is going home to South Africa in and effort to pursue his playing career. He has been here for four years and has done the majority of coaching and leg work," said Triffitt adding that a replacement will be coming in early next year. "We also hope to get more and more of local Bermudians coaching as well as having a national coach position."

And at some point in the future there are plans to open a bigger facility. "We need something bigger. There are some plans to improve the facilities at a new site. We have the World Open in 2007 and we will be forced play a lot of matches. The new site will not just be for the World Open but for the future of squash in general," added Triffitt.