Cricket’s application to compete in the Olympics received a major boost when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) included it on a shortlist of nine sports for consideration for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The LA28 organizing committee had asked the ICC to submit their case last month, but there is still no schedule for this briefing.
The committee is scheduled to convene in Mumbai in the second quarter of 2023, at which point a definitive decision regarding cricket’s participation is anticipated. In addition to cricket, eight more sports—baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, break dance, karate, kickboxing, squash, and motorsports—will also contend for a seat.
The introduction of 28 sports in the LA Games in February 2022 has already received IOC approval. At the same meeting, it made a commitment to growing the program, and in May, it developed a methodology for evaluating “possible new sports” to see if they belonged in the LA28 Games.
The number of new sports that the IOC adds is entirely up to it, but they must adhere to certain standards in order to be approved.
putting an emphasis on lowering the expense and difficulty of holding the Games.
involving the top players and participating in sports that prioritise athlete health and safety.
recognizing the attention of the host nation as well as the attractiveness to supporters worldwide.
To attract new fans and athletes, gender equality and young appeal should be prioritised.
maintaining fairness and honesty to encourage clean sports.
promoting long-term sustainability through assisting environmental sustainability.
ICC is confident that cricket will be approved
Even though the ICC thinks it is in a good position, it is cognizant that the LA committee will finally decide. According to CEO Geoff Allardice, cricket was “a major attraction” during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which are presently taking place in Birmingham. This is one of the reasons for the organization’s optimism.
According to Allardice of ESPNcricinfo, “We have witnessed how much the world’s greatest players have relished playing in front of enormous crowds and what I’m sure will be massive TV viewers in the Commonwealth Games.”
Given cricket’s popularity in Commonwealth countries, the ECB and ICC both made a strong case for its participation in CWG 2022. The game hasn’t been a Commonwealth Games competition in 24 years. In Kuala Lumpur, only men’s cricket was contested in the 1998 edition (ODI format). Eight nations are competing for the gold medal in the only sport being played at the CWG right now—cricket women’s in the T20I format.
