New Delhi : Cricket fans around the world have a reason to celebrate as the sport will make its debut at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. This is also expected to attract new cricket fans and boost global infrastructure development for the sport. Apart from its significant economic impact, As the experts said.
Team India is all set to play a crucial role as one of the six teams representing cricket at the 2028 Olympics. To achieve this, the IOC is collaborating with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Over the past two years, the International Chamber of Commerce has developed a proposal to facilitate this listing. However, it also entails mandatory drug tests for the Men in Blue team.
With an estimated 3 billion viewers across television and digital, the Olympics provide an unparalleled opportunity for cricket to shine on the world stage and potentially reach a wider audience.
Cricket is the most popular sport in the Indian subcontinent and a few other South Asian countries, but it does not rank among the top two sports even for many cricketing countries.
Additionally, in recent times, a significant number of younger fans have been turning away from the 50-over One Day International format, giving rise to the T20 format. The ICC is also promoting the popularity of the sport globally. As part of its efforts, it is hosting the next T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies. “We are delighted that cricket’s inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games has been confirmed by today’s IOC session. To have the opportunity to showcase our great sport at the LA28 Games, and hopefully many more Olympic Games to come, is a huge success,” said Greg Barclay, President of the International Cricket Council. Great for the players as well as the fans.”
Cricket last appeared in the Olympic Games in 1900, with two teams participating. International Olympic Committee member Nita M Ambani said that reintegration into the Olympic movement has the potential to add new regions and enhance its international appeal.
Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Jay Shah hailed the development for its potential to break new ground. “The Board expects this to result in significant financial gains. It will have a profound positive impact on the ecosystem of the sport. It will promote infrastructure development, intensify competition, promote youth development, and create opportunities for officials, volunteers and skilled professionals.”
Joy Bhattacharjya, cricket writer and sportscaster, praised the decision, likening it to the ICC’s success in popularizing the T20 cricket format, expanding the sport’s footprint to attract new, younger fans and markets.
“With this move, the Olympic Federation wants to see how much popularity this sport will gain when introduced at this level, which is a good thing. This could be as important as what the ICC did when it made T20 an international competition. Team India will also have to sign with the agency World Anti-Doping Committee to file a complaint within the next four years.
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Updated: October 16, 2023, 10:42 PM IST
