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After winning the Asian Games 2023 gold medal, the Indian cricket team is likely to have a chance to win an Olympic gold as well. In a major breakthrough, the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 organisers announced that they have recommended the inclusion of the sport. If the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approves it in the executive board meeting in Mumbai on October 14 and 15, cricket will return to the Olympics after 128 years.
The first time cricket was introduced was in Paris in 1900. England defeated France to win the gold medal in a one-off match.
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The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Greg Barclay was ecstatic to hear about the ground-breaking development and is eagerly waiting for the decision of the ICC.
"We are delighted that LA28 have recommended cricket for inclusion in the Olympics," Barclay said.
"While this is not the final decision, it is a very significant landmark towards seeing cricket at the Olympics for the first time in more than a century.
"I’d like to thank LA28 for their support during the new sport evaluation process over last two years and we look forward to the final decision being taken at the IOC Session, in India, during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup next week."
The ICC had recommended a six-nation T20 tournament. The six top-ranked sides in ICC men's and women's T20I rankings will fight it out for the medal.
Cricket is among the five sports including baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash to get recommended by LA28 to be included in the US edition of the Olympics.
LA28's chairperson Casey Wasserman said that it is an attempt to engage larger fanbases and help in the Games' reach on digital media.
"LA28's proposed sports ignite the imagination on the field of play and drive culture off it. They're relevant, innovative and community-based, played in backyards, schoolyards, community centers, stadiums and parks across the U.S. and the globe," Wasserman said. "They will bring new athletes to the Games, engage diverse fanbases and expand the Games' presence in digital spaces, further amplifying LA28's mission to deliver an unparalleled experience."
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