The International Olympic Committee has approved the inclusion of cricket and squash in the 2028 edition of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Baseball/softball, lacrosse(sixes), and flag football have also been included in the 2028 roster after ratification at an IOC meeting in Mumbai on Monday.
However, the vote was not unanimous, with two members voting against the motion.
According to IOC rules, host cities can propose sports they would like added to the Olympic programme.
A six-team T20 format has been proposed for men and women.
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Cricket featured at the Olympics only once before, during the 1900 Paris Games. Great Britain won the final, defeating France by 158 runs. The Netherlands and Belgium opted to withdraw from the competition.
ICC Chairman Greg Barclay said, “I’d like to thank the International Olympic Committee and LA28 for their support and for their trust in our organisation’s ability to deliver a world-class event and countless new Olympic fans from all over the world. The fact that the IOC confirmation of our selection occurred here in Mumbai during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is truly icing on the cake. The innings has just begun, and we can’t wait to see where this incredible journey leads.”
“We do not want to see it as a one-off, we are looking to be a permanent member of the Olympic movement,” Barclay said.
Talking about the long process of getting cricket included in the Olympics, Barclay said, “We worked through to satisfy the LA (organising committee) and the IOC to admit cricket into the Olympics. Obviously, they have accepted our considerations and our position and here we are today, which is great.
“There were myriad issues that would be considered for any sport’s inclusion in the Olympics, so in this case we were working through all of them,” he said.
“I am not going to highlight any one in particular, just pleased that we have been able to set aside (with) the IOC that we are a sport that was worthy of admission into the Olympic movement,” he added.
IOC member Nita M. Ambani said that the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Olympics program was a welcome addition that had the potential to attract a lot of new interest and opportunities for the Olympic movement across newer geographies in the world.
Ambani said, “As an IOC member, a proud Indian, and an ardent cricket fan, I am delighted that IOC members have voted to include cricket as an Olympic Sport in the LA Summer Olympics 2028!”
“Cricket is one of the most loved sports globally, and the second most watched. For 1.4 billion Indians, cricket is not just a sport, it’s a religion!”
(With inputs from PTI)
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