In a landmark moment for the global cricketing community, the sport is set to make its Olympic comeback at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. This marks cricket’s return to the Olympics after a gap of 128 years, having last featured in the 1900 Paris Olympics, where Great Britain clinched the gold medal by defeating France in the final.
ICC President Jay Shah met Cindy Hook, CEO of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee (OCOG), on Thursday as preparations for cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics gain momentum. Shah shared his enthusiasm in a post on X, saying, “Very exciting time ahead for cricket’s involvement in the Olympics movement – a meeting with the @Brisbane_2032 organizing committee in Brisbane, Australia today.”
Very exciting time ahead for Cricket’s involvement in the Olympics movement – a meeting with the @Brisbane_2032 organizing committee in Brisbane, Australia today.@ICC | @Olympics | @CricketAus | @BCCI | #brisbane2032 pic.twitter.com/JVyMbkCYrz
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) December 12, 2024
This post highlights the ongoing efforts to integrate cricket into the Olympic movement, reflecting the excitement surrounding its return. The decision to include cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics was made during the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai in October last year. The competition will feature the T20 format, a dynamic and widely popular version of the game expected to captivate a global audience.
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Cricket’s reintroduction to the Olympics builds on its successful inclusion in the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, marking its return to the event after 2014. The multi-nation T20 tournament showcased both men’s and women’s teams, with India achieving a clean sweep by winning gold in both categories. In the men’s tournament, Afghanistan secured silver while Bangladesh claimed bronze. In the women’s event, Sri Lanka earned silver, and Bangladesh took home bronze.
The inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Olympics represents a significant milestone, offering the sport a global platform to highlight its thrill and universal appeal. The anticipation and preparations signal new opportunities for cricket’s growth and popularity on the international stage.
