It's official! Cricket included in Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, gets IOC approval

The proposal from the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 to include five new sports in the programme has been accepted by the IOC Session. Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash will be in the programme at LA28.

3 things you need to know 
Cricket is now an Olympic sport
Cricket has featured in one previous edition of the Olympics in 1900
Nita Ambani, IOC member, welcomed the inclusion of cricket in Olympics

ALSO READ: How franchise league helped AFG to prepare vs ENG?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted on Monday to include the five new sports. The announcement is noteworthy for a number of reasons. It comes during the ongoing ODI ICC World Cup 2023, which is being held by India, and was made at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, which marked the renowned gathering's return to India after a 40-year absence.

The International Olympic Committee's Executive Board approved the Los Angeles Games organisers' application to include the sport in the programme last week. Cricket will be contested in T20 format in men's and women's categories.

Nita Ambani, IOC member, said that the inclusion of cricket in the sports program for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Games was a welcome addition that had the potential to attract a lot of new interest and opportunities for the Olympic movement across newer geographies in the world.

Speaking after cricket was officially confirmed as an Olympic sport at the ongoing 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, Nita Ambani said, “As an IOC member, a proud Indian, and an ardent cricket fan, I am delighted that IOC members have voted to include Cricket as an Olympic Sport in the LA Summer Olympics 2028!”  

Cricket has only featured in one previous edition of the Olympics in 1900 when only two teams took part. “Cricket is one of the most loved sports globally, and the second most watched. For 1.4 billion Indians, cricket is not just a sport, it's a religion!” Nita Ambani said.

Last week, IOC President Thomas Bach stated that the inclusion of cricket and four other sports — only for the Los Angeles Games 2028 — was in line with American sports culture and will also allow the Olympic movement to engage with new athletes and fan communities in the United States and around the world.