The International Olympic Association (IOC) on Friday has given the green signal to the decision to include cricket in the Los Angeles Olympics to be held in 2028. IOC Executive President Thomas Bach announced the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics. IOC sports director Kit McConnell said in a press conference that the Los Angeles committee has decided to include five sports, one of which is cricket. The organizers of the Olympics had recommended the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics after 128 years.
IOC included five sports
Other sports included by the International Olympic Association, including cricket, are baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse and squash. Cricket will be played in its shortest format i.e. T-20. Every Olympic host city has to obtain permission for any sport a few years before it can be included. IOC President Thomas Bach presided over the Executive Board meeting held at Jio Convention Center in Mumbai on Thursday.
ICC’s big victory
The game of cricket is very popular in the Indian subcontinent, there are crores of spectators interested in it in the world. ICC also wants cricket to spread on a large scale in the world. The T20 World Cup to be held in 2024 is also going to be held in America and West Indies. Now the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics is being seen as a big victory for the ICC.