ICC invited to make case for cricket’s inclusion in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
In a significant boost for the cricketing fraternity, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been invited to make a presentation on the inclusion of cricket at the Los Angeles Olympics of 2028. The final decision is expected to be made ahead of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai in mid-2023.
According to reports, cricket will be making a case for its inclusion with eight other disciplines – break-dancing (World DanceSport Federation) Baseball/Softball (WBSC), flag football (IFAF), lacrosse (World Lacrosse), karate (WKF), kickboxing (WAKO), squash (WSF) and motorsport (FIA) being the other federations invited to make their presentation.
Notably, the organizing committee for the LA28 has the opportunity to include additional sports in the quadrennial event. Still, they are not obligated to do so and are expected to consider those games which will fit its cap of 10,500 athletes at the Olympics.
“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,” an LA28 spokesperson had told in June.
Certain unconfirmed reports have emerged as per which cricket is one of the nine sports on the shortlist of international federations for the LA28 Olympic games. “Nine disciplines are on the shortlist of international federations invited to submit RFI (Request for Information) proposals for the LA28 Olympic sports programme review,” a highly-placed source said, confirming the IOC/LA 28 invite for the ICC on Monday (August 1).
‘There is not much to report at this stage other than the fact we are assisting the LA28 organizers’: Geoff Allardice
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice has stated that they are ambitious about participating in the multi-sporting event in LA28 and are providing the organizers with all the information for the assessment in regards to their inclusion. Notably, cricket made its appearance in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham for the first time in 24 years with a historic Women’s T20 tournament.
“We have declared the ambition to be involved in the Olympic Games. We are assisting the LA28 organizers and providing them with the information for their assessment of different sports in regard to the addition to the Olympic program. 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 organizers,” the ICC chief said.
