Cricket makes bid for 2028 Olympics

Cricket has the potential to make it to the next Olympics fixture, with the organisers recommending the inclusion of T20 cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The proposal will be presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for a vote next week.

This move opens the door for cricket’s Olympic comeback, which hasn’t occurred in over 120 years. The last time Cricket featured in the Olympics was in 1900. 

The other sports recommended for inclusion are baseball/softball, squash, flag football, and lacrosse, all of which were excluded from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Cricket’s prior and only appearance in the Olympics took place during the 1900 Paris Games. The event featured only two teams, Great Britain and France, with the former emerging as the champions in a Test-format match played over two days, albeit with 12 players per side. 

Casey Wasserman, chairperson of LA28, highlighted the relevance and community-based nature of these sports, emphasizing their popularity in various settings, from backyards and schoolyards to stadiums and parks worldwide.

Greg Barclay, chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), expressed the significance of this development, stating, “While this is not the final decision, it is a significant landmark towards seeing cricket at the Olympics for the first time in more than a century.”

The ultimate decision on these proposed inclusions is expected to be made during the meeting of International Olympic Committee members in Mumbai, India, next week.

The plan for the 2028 Los Angeles Games includes the likelihood of hosting both men’s and women’s T20 cricket tournaments, adding further depth to this historic opportunity.

The Olympic host cities have the privilege of proposing sports for addition to the Olympic program during their respective events. For instance, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics introduced surfing, sport climbing, karate, baseball/softball, and skateboarding to the Games.

Leon Osamor