The IOC has approved Cricket’s inclusion in the LA Olympics 2028. It’s been more than a century since cricket was being played at the Olympics.
The Paris Olympics 2024 concluded a day ago with Cricket as a game not a part of it. The cricket universe is already in Craze with the news of Cricket to be included in LA Olympics 2024. Along with cricket, the IOC has also approved the inclusion of Baseball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. It’s been a century now since cricket was last played at the Olympics.
This time around, the famous Cricket format will be featured at the Olympics, with Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar hailing this “golden opportunity” for male and female players to exhibit their sport to the globe.
“After a wait of more than a century, our beloved sport is back on the Olympic stage at LA28,” he told X.
“This represents the beginning of a new era for cricket since it will provide an excellent platform to promote diversity and showcase new talent from emerging cricketing nations.” “The beginning of something truly special!”
In what format will cricket be played?
At the LA Olympics 2024, cricket will be played in the most famous and short format T20. The T20 Cricket format is recognized as the most watched format in cricket nowadays. The advantage of T20 Cricket is that it can engage the viewers without a break and it completes within 4 hours. The other formats are too long to engage non-cricketing viewers and might be cricketing viewers as well. That is why cricket will only be played in this format at the LA Olympics 2028.
When was cricket last played at the Olympics?
Cricket will return to the Olympic program for the first time since 1900. Paris hosted its inaugural Olympics, the second modern Games following Athens in 1896. In terms of cricket, the Netherlands and Belgium withdrew, leaving only one men’s match between Great Britain and France to be played over two days.
The match was played at the Vélodrome de Vincennes, a cycling arena, and Great Britain won by 158 runs. Great Britain scored 117 in the first innings before dismissing France for 78. In the second innings, Great Britain scored 145 runs, setting France a target of 185.
The French squad imploded, going all out for 26, but Great Britain just needed five minutes to win. Intriguingly, Great Britain was first awarded silver medals and France bronze, with both receiving miniature replicas of the Eiffel Tower. However, their medals were later changed to gold and silver, respectively.
Which Nations are likely to participate in the LA Olympics 2028?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has 12 “full members”: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe.
The West Indies are a composite team of 12 different National Olympic Committees, with additional high-ranking nations including Scotland, Namibia, and the Netherlands in the men’s game and Papua New Guinea, Ireland, and Thailand in the women’s game.
India won the recent 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which took place in the West Indies and the United States, defeating South Africa in the final.
India also won the inaugural Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, while England (2010, 2022) and the West Indies (2012, 2016) have also won twice. Pakistan (2009), Sri Lanka (2014), and Australia (2021) have each won once.
The 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will take place in October, and Australia earned their sixth T20 world title last year by defeating South Africa. Since England won the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009, Australia has won six of the eight tournaments. The West Indies eventually triumphed in 2016.
Venues for Cricket at the LA Olympics 2028
The Cricket venues at the LA Olympics 2028 are yet to be confirmed. However, the Hosts will use all the existing and temporary venues as the part of Sustainability Pledge.
Schedule for Cricket at the LA Olympics 2028
With the LA Olympics 2028 being 4 years away the cricket schedule has not yet been announced. But, these schedules will be completed nearing the Olympics in 2028.
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