Staff Reporter.
Cricket’s return to the Olympics for the Los Angeles 2028 Games has been approved by the International Olympic Committee executive board.
IOC members will now vote on Monday to ratify the board’s recommendation.
IOC president Thomas Bach said the new sports allow the Olympic movement to “engage with new athletes and fan communities”.
“Taking into consideration that these proposals and these sports are fully in line with the sports culture of our hosts in 2028, with the American sports culture, they will showcase iconic American sports to the world while bringing at the same time international sports to the United States,” Bach said.
Host cities are able to propose sports they would like added to the Olympic programme when they stage the event.
Cricket’s only previous appearance at the Olympics was at Paris 1900, when Great Britain beat France in the final. It was also the only match after the Netherlands and Belgium withdrew.
There is expected to be both a T20 men’s and women’s tournament at the LA Games, with the United States set to field a side as host nation.
The United States is co-hosting the men’s T20 World Cup with the West Indies in June 2024.
“We see the growing popularity of cricket, particularly the T20 format,” added Bach.
“This is a win-win situation. The Olympic Games will give cricket a global stage and the opportunity to grow beyond the traditional cricket countries and regions.
“And for the Olympic Movement, it’s the opportunity to engage with fan and athlete communities to which so far we have very little or even no access.”