Mumbai (Maharashtra):After being included in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, cricket is all set to feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Executive Board on Friday approved the proposal of the organisers to include the sport along with other disciplines.
Cricket will be played in the T20 format while the 2028 edition is also likely to include baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash. Along with cricket, these other sports also received the nod of the IOC Executive Board which met here with President Thomas Bach chairing it. Votes are going to be cast on the proposal during the IOC session which will begin in the city on Sunday.
The move might turn out to be pretty beneficial for India as the sport will create a medal prospect as they are an elite side in the sport. President of the IOC Executive Board Thomas Bach stated that the decision is taken considering American sports culture and it will also help the Olympic movement to engage with new athletes and fans.
"The IOC had to take three different decisions. (The) first was about the proposal of the Los Angeles organising committee to introduce five new sports. These five sports are baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), squash and cricket," Bach said during the media briefing after the conclusion of the two-day Executive Board meeting.
"We see growing popularity of cricket, particularly the T20 format. The World Cup (50 overs) is a huge success already."
The initial idea of the Los Angeles Games organising committee was to schedule a six-team event, in both men's and women's T20 cricket. The USA were going to field sides as hosts. However, the final decision regarding the number of participant teams will be taken later. IOC's director of sports, Kit McConnell confirmed the same.