The ICC has been invited to make a case for the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics and is likely to take a decision on it in its Mumbai season in 2023.
The ICC has been invited to make a case for the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics and is likely to take a decision on it in its Mumbai season in 2023.
The much-awaited inclusion of cricket in 2028 Los Angeles olympics Got a shot in the arm as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected it for review along with eight other sporting disciplines.
Cricket It has participated in the 1900 Paris Olympic Games only once, with Great Britain and host France as the only participants.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the development comes a day after the International Cricket Committee (ICC) was formally invited by both LA28 and the IOC to make a presentation to consider their case.
However, a final decision is expected to be announced sometime in mid-2023 ahead of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai.
The other eight sports considered for a showpiece event are baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, break dancing, karate, kick-boxing, squash and motorsport.
In February this year, the IOC said a total of 28 sporting events would be part of the Los Angeles Games and added that it would consider “possible new sports” with a focus on youth.
As per the IOC order, certain criteria must be clarified for a sport to be considered for inclusion.
This includes cost and complexity reduction, putting the best athletes and sports with safety and health first, global appeal, host country interest, gender equality, youth relevance, maintaining integrity and fairness to support clean sports, and long-term stability is included.
Cricket is currently being featured in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in which the women’s T20 format is being played between eight countries, although only women’s teams are participating in it.
However, for a sporting event to be held at the Olympic Games, it must be for both men and women.
ICC CEO Geoff Allardyce said he was pleased with the way cricket was viewed during the Birmingham Games and that the game has been a “star attraction” at the showpiece event.
“We’ve seen from the Commonwealth Games how much the world’s best players have enjoyed playing in front of big crowds and I’m sure there will be big TV audiences,” Allardyce told the website.