Here’s how ICC will work with BCCI to push to include Cricket in 2028 Olympics
ICC confirms that they will push for cricket’s inclusion in the Olympic games. ICC will surely bid for cricket’s entry in the the Olympic games. ICC is planning to make a committee to bid for cricket when the Olympic Games on behalf of the sport. ICC is focusing on Los Angeles Olympic Games 2028 and beyond.
The move follows the go-ahead from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which, in April, endorsed the ICC’s Olympic plan. The Indian board, traditionally, was known to oppose cricket’s inclusion in the Games for various reasons, more administrative and commercial than cricketing ones. The administration of the BCCI has changed after just has taken over the chair. Now BCCI and ICC are on the same page for the cricket inclusion in the Olympic games.
Ian Watmore the head of England and Wales Cricket board will share the ICC Olympic working committee. Indra Nooyi, ICC Independent Director will also join him in the ICC Olympic working group. Tavengwa Mukuhlani , Zimbabwe Cricket President, Mahindra Vallipuram, vice president of the Asian Cricket Council and ICC associate member director and Paraag Marathe, USA cricket will also feature in the ICC Olympic working group. The decision to include Paraag Marathe is strategic because the 2028 Olympic games are going to be hosted by Los Angeles.
“Firstly on behalf of everyone at the ICC, I would like to congratulate the IOC, Tokyo 2020 and the people of Japan for staging such an incredible Games in such difficult circumstances. It truly was fantastic to watch and captured the imagination of the world and we would love for cricket to be a part of future Games.
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“Our sport is united behind this bid, and we see the Olympics as a part of cricket’s long-term future. We have more than a billion fans globally and almost 90 per cent of them want to see cricket at the Olympics. Clearly cricket has a strong and passionate fan base, particularly in South Asia where 92% of our fans come from, whilst there are also 30 million cricket fans in the USA. The opportunity for those fans to see their heroes competing for an Olympic medal is tantalizing.
“We believe cricket would be a great addition to the Olympic Games, but we know it won’t be easy to secure our inclusion as there are so many other great sports out there wanting to do the same. But we feel now is the time to put our best foot forward and show what a great partnership cricket and the Olympics could be”, Said Greg Braclay, ICC chairman.
“USA Cricket is thrilled to be able to support cricket’s bid for inclusion in the Olympics, the timing of which aligns perfectly with our continuing plans to develop the sport in the USA. With so many passionate cricket fans and players already in the USA, and a huge global audience and following for the sport around the world, we believe that cricket’s inclusion will add great value to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and help us to achieve our own vision for establishing cricket as a mainstream sport in this country”, Said Paraag Marathe, USA cricket chairperson.
Hopefully it would be great to see Indian Cricket Team with Olympic Gold Medal on their chest as a true Indian Fan(cheers).
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