News Notes
Cricket was last played in the 1900 Olympics in Paris as a one-off match between Great Britain and France (a team comprising British nationals and two born in France). Its return to the Olympics was approved by the 141st IOC Session held in Mumbai on October 16, 2023.
“Let me make it clear, the commercial aspect is not a consideration for us. The first argument (in favor of cricket) is that we have seen the growing importance of cricket becoming one of the most popular sports worldwide. The second reason for LA to consider is that it had a growing presence in the United States,” said Thomas Bach, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president at a news conference during the session held in Mumbai.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: “Absolutely delighted that baseball, softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash will feature in @LA28. This is great news for sportspersons. As a cricket loving nation, we specially welcome inclusion of cricket, reflecting the rising global popularity of this wonderful…” — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2023
Cricket is hugely popular in South Asia, Australia, West Indies, and parts of Europe. Its popularity has been growing in the United States. IOC had discussions with professional cricket leagues like the Indian Premier League and Major League Cricket to get their inputs about the sport.
The 2028 Summer Olympics are slated for July 2028 in Los Angeles.
