Credit: Twitter
The International Olympic Committee has approved the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The decision to include the sport in the T20I format was taken at the committee's executive board meeting in Mumbai on October 13, Friday. Cricket's previous appearance at the multi-sport tournament was in 1990 in Paris.
Addressing the press, the IOC Chief Thomas Bach said, "With regard to the sports program of Los Angeles 28 the IOC had to take three decisions. First, it was the Los Angeles Organising Committee to introduce five new sports. These five sports are cricket, baseball, softba ll, flag football & squash."
Next, the regulating body will vote at its next meeting which is slated to take place from October 14 to 16. Notably, the LA28 local organising committee had proposed the "potential inclusion" of five new sports - cricket, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse and squash in the 2028 edition of the tournament.
Bach added, "These sports will showcase iconic American sports to the world while bringing at the same time international sports to the United States. The inclusion will, on the other hand, allow the Olympics to engage with new athletes and fan communities in the US and globally."
The IOC boss said that the inclusion of cricket in Olympics won't only benefit the multi-sports global event but also widen the overall popularity of the sport.
