Kolkata: Good news for the cricket fans across the globe as cricket may finally again be included to the Olympics in Los Angeles 2028 if all goes well, feels ICC’s chief executive Dave Richardson.
In a bold decision to globalise cricket, the ICC on the final day of its five-day long quarterly meetings here decided to give International status to all T20 matches played by the 104 members.
Cricket has not been played at the Summer Games since it featured only once in Paris 1900.
“I think this can only help us in any move or application to the IOC for the right to participate in the Olympics going forward,” Richardson told reporters here.
The deadline for submitting bids to the IOC for the inclusion of new sports at the 2024 Games is over as the Richardson said they’re hopeful for its inclusion at LA 2028.
“It’s going to take a bit of time as you know the Olympics will be in Paris 2024, Los Angeles in 2028. We already missed the boat to apply to IOC through the front door to get the right to participate.
“We can’t go to Paris. We have continued with talks with them and with LA in due course. Hopefully by 2028 we will have cricket in the Olympics,” he said.
Incidentally, the Indian Cricket Board has been reluctant for inclusion of cricket in the quadrennial showpiece event on the apparent reason that it will have to go under the aegis of the Indian Olympic Association that would mean loss of its autonomy.
Moreover, with India having a busy season that includes IPL the Olympics may also eat into the Future Tours Programme.
“We still have to resolve an issue between the BCCI and the IOA. Assuming that we can get all of cricket united in a desire to be part of the Olympics then I think hopefully we will have a very good chance of pursuing the IOC that cricket is sport that can add value to the Olympics going forward,” he said.