Monday marked a defining moment for cricket with its official inclusion in the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles. After a hiatus of 128 years, cricket makes a grand return to the Olympics, with the T20 format set to entertain in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. In its 141st session, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also approved the inclusion of squash, baseball/softball, lacrosse, and flag football among the sports roster.
The IOC shared on its X (previously known as Twitter) account, 'Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash will be part of the LA28 sports program.'
Out of the 99 voting members of the IOC, only two objected to the proposal of including the five sports recommended by the LA28 organizing committee. Following the executive board's recommendation, the members voted by show of hands. Subsequently, IOC president Thomas Bach announced the inclusion of cricket alongside other sports in the Olympic schedule, saying, 'I welcome all of you to the Olympic program.'
Virat Kohli Instrumental In Cricket's Olympic Inclusion
It is widely believed that cricketer Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in cricket's Olympic reincarnation. During conversations and voting rounds for the sport's inclusion, Kohli's mass appeal was cited. Italian Olympic shooting champion and Sports Director for LA28, Niccolò Campriani, highlighted Kohli's popularity, saying, 'To keep sports relevant for the youth, a strong digital presence is essential. And cricket provides a unique platform in this regard. Think of my friend Virat (Kohli); he has 314 million social media followers, ranking him as the third most-followed athlete worldwide – more than the combined followers of LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Tiger Woods. It’s a significant win for LA28.'
Cricket's Brief Stint in the 1900 Paris Olympics
Cricket graced the Olympic stage only once during the 1900 Paris Games, with teams from Great Britain and France competing. Great Britain took home the gold and France the silver. It is interesting to note that the only match played was deemed the final.
While cricket is globally the second most popular sport after football, its true expansion is somewhat constrained to Commonwealth nations, with India being a central figure. The reintroduction of T20 cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Games shows promise for the sport, both in terms of play and commerce.
Cricket in the Olympics will provide a stage arguably even grander than the World Cup. The prestige of standing on the podium, a medal draped around one's neck, while listening to the national anthem is a venerable experience from which cricket has been absent. Keith Joseph, president of the Caribbean National Olympic Committees, expressed, 'The Olympic inclusion of cricket is fantastic news. It will shape cricket's global image. T20 format also appeals to younger audiences.'
Will Cricket Give Football a Run for Its Money?
Keith Joseph strongly supported the ICC's efforts to get cricket included in the Los Angeles Games. With the United States co-hosting the T20 World Cup in 2024, the sport's popularity is anticipated to increase prior to the Olympics. However, merely being part of the Olympics does not guarantee the sport's popularity to rival that of football. The ICC has 66 countries in its women's T20 rankings and 87 in the men's, whereas FIFA ranks 207 men's teams and 186 women's. Nevertheless, the T20 format has made its way to Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
An experienced BCCI administrator noted, 'This is the first step to bringing cricket to a global audience. The US is a vast market, with a significant diaspora from the subcontinent. Now, cricket has only been included in the Los Angeles Games, with hopes of continuation into Brisbane (2032) since cricket is very popular in Australia.' But, there are substantial obstacles; officials and players are reluctant to comply with many provisions of the IOC, IOA, and WADA.
