Pop-up squash to help staff bounce back into city life
Jack Gramenz |
The sport of squash and working in an office have something in common – neither are nearly as popular as they once were.
But advocates want to reverse those trends by combining the two activities for a healthy day of work and play in the city.
A temporary squash court has been set up in Sydney’s Martin Place, surrounded by high-rise office buildings.
“We’re trying to encourage more and more people to come back into the city,” Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou told AAP on Monday.
“We’re very keen to get as many CBD workers to get involved and play this wonderful sport … to have a healthy body, a healthy mind and a healthy city,” he said.
Run clubs and various forms of football are also popular lunchtime sports for office workers, Mr Nicolaou said.
City Houses Squash Racquets Association president George Deubler said it’s the perfect sport for city commuters.
“People are time-pressed, you only need 30 minutes for a good workout,” he told AAP as a bead of sweat dripped off his nose from a recent hit-out with Mr Nicolaou.
“It’s something a bit different to just going for a run, there’s a bit of competitiveness and you can do it in any weather.
“It’s one of the world’s healthiest sports.”
The squash court will be in Martin Place until Thursday, with a series of VIP exhibition matches planned.
Squash Australia’s current strategic plan aims for one million participants by 2032, with hopes the sport will feature in the Brisbane Olympics that year.
The target approaches participation levels claimed in the sport’s 1980s heyday.
Near the pop-up court in Martin Place is another, permanent squash court in the NSW Parliament.
But departmental staff that Premier Chris Minns has been trying to bring back to their offices since August may have to look elsewhere.
The Labor premier confirmed the work-from-office push remains current, following the recent reversal of a coalition policy during the federal election campaign.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the Liberal party “got it wrong” on the policy.
It had proven unpopular, particularly among women expected to take on greater caring responsibilities, given concerns about flexible working arrangements being rolled back.
AAP
