Cricket approved by IOC for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

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• Oct 13, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board has approved the inclusion of cricket as one of the sports for the...

Digital Desk: The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board has approved the inclusion of cricket as one of the sports for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The move comes as part of a broader initiative to diversify the Olympic program and attract a wider global audience.

The proposal to add cricket, along with four other sports—baseball/softball, flag football, squash, and lacrosse—was submitted by the organizers of the Los Angeles 2028 Games earlier this week. The decision was announced by IOC President Thomas Bach following a two-day executive board meeting in Mumbai.

Under IOC rules, host cities have the right to request the inclusion of specific sports for their edition of the Games. The executive board unanimously accepted the proposal, and the final step in solidifying these sports' position in the Olympics will be the IOC session scheduled to begin on Sunday, where the board's recommendation will be presented for approval.

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Cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Olympics marks a significant milestone for the sport. The decision has the potential to further boost cricket's popularity and reach, particularly on the global stage. "With cooperation from the International Cricket Council (ICC), we will explore ways to make cricket even more popular," said President Bach, emphasizing the collaborative effort that will be required to make cricket's Olympic return a success.

Cricket enjoys immense popularity in countries like India, and its global audience has been steadily growing. Notably, the sport will return to the Olympics after an absence of 128 years; the last time it was played in the Olympics was in 1900.

While the decision to include cricket is met with enthusiasm, some details remain unclear, such as the number of teams that will participate in the cricket competition. President Bach stated, "We are still in the proposal mode. The number of teams participating is still not clear yet."

The inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Olympics is expected to provide a significant platform for the sport to continue its global expansion and reach new audiences. As the IOC session approaches, the world eagerly awaits the final stamp of approval for this momentous decision.