The International Olympic Committee’s executive board has introduced Cricket as a sport in the Olympics once again after 123 years. Previously, Cricket was a part in the multi Sports mega global event and will be played once again from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Cricket was last played in the Olympics in the 1900 Paris Olympics. Since then cricket has become one of the most popular sports in the world. The International Olympic Committee’s President Thomas Bach believes the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics will take it to new heights and give it a worldwide exposure.
Thomas Bach on the inclusion of Cricket in The Olympics
“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,” said Thomas Bach.
“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 added.
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“This is a win-win situation. The Olympic Games will give cricket a global stage and the opportunity to grow beyond the traditional cricket countries and regions. And for the Olympic movement, it’s an opportunity to engage with the fans and athletes community, to which so far we have very little or no access. And we see this move also very much reflected here in how one can enrich the other: we see it in India where you see the growing Olympic spirit, where you see a number of Olympic sports gaining strength and becoming popular. And cricket is still being the No. 1 sport and the most popular sport”, said Thomas Bach.
