Cricket to be part of Olympics in Los Angeles 2028

Cricket will make a return to Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, opening the door for the sport to expand further.

Although the game has been played only in Commonwealth nations – countries which were once British colonies – there has been interest from many countries around the world to take up the sport.

Its inclusion in the 34th edition (or XXXIV) of the Olympics will give it a further boost.

“The ICC is thrilled at the confirmation that cricket will be part of sports programme of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 (LA28). Cricket’s inclusion was formally ratified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today (on Monday, October 16) at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, following LA28’s recommendation last week,” said a statement from International Cricket Council (ICC).

The addition of cricket in the Olympics, for the first time since 1900, concludes a two-year process, in which the ICC worked extensively to develop a proposal.

“The Olympic Games is estimated to have an audience of more than 3 billion viewers across TV and digital platforms, representing a unique opportunity for cricket to engage new audiences and further boost the sport’s reach across the world, opening the door to a new generation of cricket enthusiasts,” the statement added further.

ICC chairman Greg Barclay, who is busy with the ongoing 50-over World Cup in India at the moment, also expressed happiness.

“We are thrilled that cricket’s inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games has been confirmed by the IOC Session today. To have the opportunity to showcase our great sport at the LA28 Games and hopefully many Olympic Games to come will be great for players and fans alike,” he 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.”

The IOC, which granted the accreditation, mentioned the contribution of cricketing superstars in making the sport popular.

"My friend Virat Kohli has 340 million Social Media followers, making him the third most followed athlete — surpassing combined numbers of LeBron James (NBA basketball star), Tom Brady (American football icon) and Tiger Woods (American golf legend),” said Niccolo Campriani, the Sports Director of the LA2028 Organising Committee, during the IOC session in Mumbai.

“It is a win-win situation for LA28, IOC and cricket community as cricket will be showcased on a global stage, in order to grow it beyond traditional cricketing nations and give it access to untapped communities of athletes and fans.”

The last time cricket was played was in 1900 and only two teams competed in it with England beating France.

Flag-football, baseball-softball, lacrosse and squash are the other four sports included for Los Angeles 2028

cricket, Olympics, World Cup, Los Angeles, LA28, IOC