Cricket has officially been included in the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking its return to the Summer Games after 123 years. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved this decision during its 141st session, along with squash, baseball/softball, lacrosse, and flag football.
The IOC stated, "Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash will be in the programme at LA28."
This proposal by the Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee was widely accepted, with just two of the 99 participating IOC members opposing it. IOC President Thomas Bach announced cricket's inclusion, hailing the addition of all these sports to the Olympic program.
Cricket has only been featured once in the Olympics, back in 1900 in Paris, when England emerged victorious against France.
"The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States." "These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique. Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally," IOC president Thomas Bach said.
Keith Joseph, President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), expressed his excitement about cricket's inclusion in the Olympics and its positive impact on the sport's global image. He strongly supported the ICC's efforts to bring cricket to the LA Olympics.
Joseph highlighted the suitability of T20 cricket for the Olympics, given its shorter duration and appeal to younger audiences. Additionally, he mentioned that the USA co-hosting the T20 World Cup in 2024 would serve as a valuable introduction to cricket leading up to the Olympics.
However, it's essential to avoid unrealistic expectations that cricket will match the worldwide popularity of football solely because of its Olympic appearance.
Consider this: The ICC men's T20 ranking list includes 87 nations for men and 66 for women, while FIFA's ranking list encompasses 207 men's teams and 186 women's teams. These figures underscore the significant disparity in global representation between the two sports.
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