Snooker bids for inclusion in 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association believe that the sport should be included in the games because of its worldwide appeal.

Chairman Jason Ferguson said: "It has been our belief for some time that we should be given our chance on the ultimate global platform for sport."

Under new rules, each Olympic Games can now accept one sport into its programme – the reason being that the International Olympic Committee think new sports should be able to enter the Games more easily to freshen things up.

The list of sports already approved for Tokyo has been submitted to the IOC, but new sports are allowed to be put forward. For snooker to be included in the 2020 games, however, a request from the organisers must be put forward.

Ferguson added: "Snooker alone is watched by nearly half a billion people worldwide and played competitively in over 90 countries."

If snooker is to be included, the sport will follow in the footsteps of golf and rugby sevens, which have made the list for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

However, snooker is sure to come up against stiff competition in the form of baseball and softball because of the sports’ popularity in Japan.