- Mar 4, 2024
- May 17, 2023
In the midst of the Indian cricket team’s impressive performance in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, a momentous announcement sent ripples of joy throughout the cricketing world. The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) declared that the shortest established international format of cricket, T20, has been officially approved for inclusion in the program for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This historic decision marks cricket’s triumphant return to the Olympic stage after an absence of 128 years.
Cricket enthusiasts and athletes have long yearned for the sport’s reinstatement in the Olympics, and their dreams have finally been realized. Cricket had made a brief appearance in the 1900 Olympics in Paris, with only two teams, one representing Great Britain and the other France, competing for medals. Since then, despite its global popularity, cricket has remained conspicuously absent from the Olympic program.
The inclusion of cricket in LA28, along with baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash, was proposed by the LA28 Organizing Committee. This proposal became a reality when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) formalized cricket’s entry into the 2028 Olympic Games during the 141st IOC Session held in Mumbai.
The cricketing action in the Olympics will feature both men’s and women’s tournaments, played in the highly popular T20 format. This format has gained immense popularity worldwide for its thrilling and fast-paced nature. Notably, T20 cricket was also part of the Asian Games in 2010, 2014, and, most recently, in 2023, where it showcased the sport to a broad audience.
What many may not have been aware of is the significant role played by former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli in making cricket a part of this historic event. According to the LA Sports director, Virat Kohli is the third most followed athlete in the world, boasting an impressive 314 million followers across social media platforms. This staggering number surpasses the combined followers of renowned athletes like LeBron James, Tiger Woods, and Tom Reidy.
The LA Sports director emphasized that bringing cricket into the Olympics is a win-win-win situation for LA28, the IOC, and the cricketing fraternity. Cricket will be showcased on a global stage, extending its reach beyond traditional cricket-playing countries. Simultaneously, the Olympic movement gains access to previously untapped communities of athletes and fans. This remarkable development underscores how enriching one side can have a profound impact on the other, making cricket’s inclusion in LA28 a pivotal moment in the sport’s history.
As cricket lovers eagerly await the 2028 Olympics, this decision promises to elevate the sport to new heights, connecting fans and athletes worldwide and making cricket an integral part of this prestigious global event.
LA Sports Director on King Kohli:
Virat Kohli is one of the main reasons behind Cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic. pic.twitter.com/upCYsQsI2a
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 16, 2023