The highly anticipated decision regarding cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles has hit a temporary roadblock. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that a meeting intended to explore cricket’s participation in the Olympics, along with the potential inclusion of eight other sports, has been postponed due to ongoing discussions with the LA2028 Organising Committee.
The IOC explained in a statement that “because of ongoing negotiations between the IOC and the (LA2028) Organising Committee, the Olympic Programme Commission has not yet had the opportunity to convene and formulate its ultimate recommendation for the IOC Executive Board.” Consequently, the fate of cricket’s presence in the Olympic Games LA28 will be discussed in a future IOC Executive Board meeting, with the date yet to be determined.
In addition to cricket, the board had plans to consider the inclusion of other sports, including flag football, karate, kickboxing, baseball softball, lacrosse, breakdancing, squash, and motorsport.
Should the board ultimately support cricket’s inclusion, the decision will require full approval during the IOC session scheduled in Mumbai next month. Despite this temporary delay, the International Cricket Council (ICC) maintains an optimistic outlook, as reported by the Times of India.
Cricket’s popularity in the United States has been on the rise, particularly with the successful Major League Cricket (MLC) earlier this year. The T-20 format is considered the most suitable for Olympic cricket.