Olympics 2028: Cricket Added to LA28 Olympic Games Programme, Receives Praise from Indian Prime Minister
Mumbai, 16th October 2023: In a historic decision that is set to revolutionize the world of cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) successfully led a comprehensive two-year process to include cricket in the Olympic Games programme, with support from the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee (LA28). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) formally ratified this addition during the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai on Monday, with a warm welcome from Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Cricket’s inclusion in the Olympic Games comes as a momentous step for the sport, with the potential to capture the hearts of an estimated three billion viewers across television and digital platforms worldwide. The opportunity to showcase cricket on this global stage is expected to draw in new audiences, thereby further expanding the sport’s global reach and engaging a new generation of cricket enthusiasts and fans.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi expressed his delight and support for this groundbreaking development. In a post on X, he wrote:
“Absolutely delighted that baseball-softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash will feature in @LA28. This is great news for sportspersons. As a cricket-loving nation, we especially welcome the inclusion of cricket, reflecting the rising global popularity of this wonderful sport.”
The inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games is being viewed as a significant recognition of the sport’s growing global appeal, and it is expected to bolster cricket’s stature on the world stage. This move could potentially open doors for cricket to become a permanent fixture in future Olympic Games.
The announcement was met with enthusiasm not only by cricket enthusiasts but also by the wider sporting community, heralding a new era for the sport as it takes its place on the grandest of sporting stages at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
