MUMBAI: Cricket, out of the Olympic roster for over a century, is now on the brink of making a comeback after being granted approval for inclusion at the 2028 Los Angeles Games by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) executive board.
IOC President Thomas Bach, addressing the media following the second day of an executive board meeting in Mumbai, announced that officials had endorsed a proposal from LA organizers to include Twenty20 cricket as one of five new sports. These sports would also feature baseball/softball, flag football (a non-contact variant of American football), squash, and lacrosse.
The final decision on which sports will be part of the 2028 program will be determined through a vote during the IOC session in Mumbai on Monday.
Bach expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to engage with new athletes and fan communities. He recognized the surging popularity of T20 cricket and the prospect of welcoming the world’s best players to the US in 2028.
Los Angeles organizers have proposed a six-team event, including both men’s and women’s T20 cricket, with the United States participating as the host nation. The number of teams and the qualification process will be formalized once cricket’s inclusion is ratified on Monday.
Cricket’s Last Appeared in Olympics in 1900
Cricket’s last appearance in the Olympics was in 1900 in Paris when a British team defeated a French side. The sport has been striving for a return to the Games for over a decade with the encouragement of the Olympic movement.
From a financial perspective, adding cricket to the Olympic program makes evident sense. It would tap into the lucrative South Asian market, attracting fans from countries such as India and Pakistan. T20 cricket, being the sport’s shortest international format, enjoys immense popularity.
The Indian Premier League, featuring global cricket stars, has significantly contributed to making India the economic epicenter of the sport due to its vast fan base and lucrative broadcasting deals in a nation where cricket is nearly a religion.
The status of boxing at the 2028 Games, however, remains uncertain after the IOC withdrew recognition from the International Boxing Association due to governance disputes. Boxing has been a part of every Olympics since 1920 and is scheduled for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Bach clarified that the IOC’s concern is not with the sport of boxing or its athletes but rather with the governing body’s management.
