Cricket has been authorised for inclusion in the schedule for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles by the International Olympic Committee’s executive committee, it was revealed Friday.
Cricket’s more than 100-year Olympic exile came to an end as the International Olympic Committee’s executive board authorised its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. After the second day of an executive board meeting in Mumbai on Friday, IOC president Thomas Bach said officials had accepted a proposal from LA organisers to include Twenty20 cricket as one of five new sports, along with baseball/softball, flag football (non-contact American football), squash, and lacrosse. The final decision on which sports will be included in the 2028 Olympic programme will be made on Monday during the IOC session in Mumbai, one of cricket’s hotbeds, as India hosts the men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup.
“We see the growing popularity of T20 cricket and we look forward to welcoming the world’s best players to the US in 2028,” he said.
The Los Angeles Chiefs have suggested a six-team competition for both women’s and men’s T20 cricket, with the US playing as the host country.
However, until cricket receives official certification on Monday, no definitive decisions regarding the number of teams or their qualification process will be made.
The last time cricket was played was during the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, when a British team defeated a French squad.
For more over ten years, the Olympic movement has supported the sport’s efforts to return to the Games.
Financially speaking, it makes sense to include cricket in the Olympic agenda.
By drawing followers from nations like Pakistan and India, it would have access to the rich south Asian market.
The shortest international format in sports is T20 cricket.
Thanks to throngs of spectators and rich media deals in a country where cricket is practically a religion, the Indian Premier League, which features the game’s international stars, has helped India become the sport’s undeniable economic driving force.
In the meantime, boxing’s position at the 2028 Olympics is still up in the air because the International Boxing Association lost its recognition from the IOC due to disagreements about the sport’s governance.
Since 1920, boxing has competed in every Olympics, and it will again in Paris the following year.
“Boxing should be featured on the show,” Bach declared. “We have no problem, with boxing or boxers — we have a problem with the governing body.”
