International Olympics Committee invites World Cricket Governing Council to include cricket in the 2028 Olympics- Reports
Olympics Logo, Smriti Mandhana (Image Credit: Twitter)
The inclusion of cricket in the Olympics Games 2028 might not be as far-fetched a dream as people might think. Recently, The World Cricket Governing Council Chief Executive Geoff Allardice told journalists that the board is assisting the 2028 event organizers and providing them information on the sport for its addition to the event. He maintained that the decision will be taken next year.
“We have declared the ambition to be involved in the Olympic Games. We are assisting the LA28 organisers and providing them the information for their assessment of different sports in regard to the addition to the Olympic programme. At this stage the decisions are due next year. There is not much to report at this stage other than the fact we are assisting the LA28 organisers.”
On the other hand, the International Olympics Committee has reportedly now invited the cricket governing body. The Olympic body has shortlisted nine disciplines and asked their federations to submit an RFI proposal for the event in Los Angeles.
“Nine disciplines are on the shortlist of international federations invited to submit RFI (Request for Information) proposals for the LA28 Olympic sport programme review,” the source said.
The report added that there is no obligation to include new sports as the international Olympic body have already announced 28 sports. For the unversed, 28 different sports events are held during the event on a leap year. Only 2021 event was an aberration due to COVID19. Meanwhile, the inclusion of sports will be discussed in the next few months which includes cricket.
“Beyond the initial 28 sports, the organizing committee for the LA28 Games has the opportunity, but not an obligation, to propose additional new sports for inclusion in the LA28 Olympic program. In the coming months, LA28 and the IOC will work with international federations to review disciplines with the evaluation criteria. The criteria will also aid in the evaluation of potential new sports for the LA28 Olympic Games,” an LA28 spokesperson had told Cricbuzz in June.
