Cricket could make its Olympic debut in 2028 after being included on a shortlist of sports that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering for inclusion.
The IOC’s Olympic Programme Commission has shortlisted nine sports for possible inclusion at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, including cricket, karate, surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing, squash, and wakeboarding.
Cricket is the world’s most popular sport, with an estimated 2.5 billion fans. It is particularly popular in India, where it is considered a national sport.
The IOC has been looking to include more sports from the developing world at the Olympics in order to broaden its appeal. Cricket would be a natural fit for this strategy, as it is a major sport in many countries that have never hosted the Olympics.
Cricket is also a relatively easy sport to understand and play, which would make it accessible to a wide range of athletes.
Also Read: Manchester City made a deadline day bid for Crystal Palace star for £60m.
The IOC is expected to make a decision on which sports to include at the 2028 Games in 2023. If cricket is selected, it would be the first time that the sport has been played at the Olympics since 1900.
The inclusion of cricket at the Olympics would be a major boost for the sport and would help to grow its popularity around the world. It would also be a significant achievement for India, which has been lobbying for the sport’s inclusion for many years.
The other sports on the IOC’s shortlist are:
- Karate
- Surfing
- Skateboarding
- Sport climbing
- Squash
- Wakeboarding
- Baseball/softball
- Breakdancing
- Roller sports
The IOC will consider a number of factors when making its decision, including the popularity of the sport, its global reach, and its ability to attract television audiences.
The inclusion of cricket at the Olympics would be a major coup for the sport and would help to make it a truly global phenomenon.