It's official! Cricket back in Olympics after more than a century; Squash, too included in 2028 LA Olympic program

In a historic development, cricket will return to the Olympics after an absence of over a century as five sports were added to the 2028 Los Angeles Games by the International Olympic Committee on Monday with baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash also confirmed for the program.

 

 

These sports’ inclusion at the Olympics in Los Angeles was formalised after a vote at the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai. It must be noted that the inclusion of the sports was not unanimous, with two IOC members voting against it.

 

IOC President Thomas Bach had said last week that the inclusion of cricket and four other sports — only for the Los Angeles Games 2028 — was in line with the American sports culture and will also felicitate the Olympic movement to engage with new athletes and fan communities in the US as well as globally.

 

“We see growing popularity of cricket, particularly the T20 format. The World Cup (50 overs) is a huge success already,” Bach had said during the media briefing after the conclusion of the two-day Executive Board meeting on October 13.

 

Cricket is a big-ticket item for the IOC. The sport is expected to raise broadcast revenue from India by at least $100 million when the country’s favorite sport joins the Olympics. The Olympic tournaments for men and women should each have six teams playing the shortened and dynamic Twenty20 format.