(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] In a latest development, it has been announced that cricket has been approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC has accepted the recommendation to include T20 cricket as a sport in the 2028 Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles, USA.
Notably, cricket was only played once in the Olympics, and that was back in 1900. A decision was made during the IOC’s executive board meeting in Mumbai on October 13 that Cricket will make its return in the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad after a 128-year gap. However, there is a confirmation pending as now the IOC will have to vote for the sport in a session, which will be organised in Mumbai from October 14 to 16.
They IOC President Thomas Bach confirmed that the have given the green light to the proposal from the LA organizers to include five new sports, including cricket, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash in the 2028 Olympics
“With regard to the sports program of Los Angeles 28 the IOC had to take three decisions. First, it was the Los Angeles Organising Committee to introduce five new sports. These five sports are cricket, baseball, softball, flag football & squash,” said Bach.
“These proposals have been accepted as a package by the IOC executive board taking into consideration that these proposals and these sports are fully in line with the sports culture of our host in ’28, with the American sports culture,” he added.
Furthermore, Bach mentioned that adding these sports to the list will help attract more attention and benefit the Olympics by connecting with new athletes and fans in the US and around the world.
“They will showcase iconic American sports to the world while bringing at the same time international sports to the United States. The inclusion will, on the other hand, allow the Olympics to engage with new athletes and fan communities in the US and globally,” he concluded.
The multisport event, Los Angeles 2028, will take place from July 14 to 30, 2028. This will be the third time that LA hosts the Olympics after 1932 and 1984.