New sports, including cricket, to be added to the Olympic Games in 2028

Cricket at the Olympic Games

Cricket isn't actually new to the Olympics but the last time it was included was 128 years ago.

The sport was initially included in the 1896 Olympic Games but was cancelled after receiving insufficient entries.

Another attempt was made in the 1900 Olympics and the competition went after two entries were received: one from Great Britain and the other from France.

Many of the players were considered to be below first-class standard, most of the French team was made up of English expats and the Great British team was not considered national representative because the players were only from the Devon & Somerset Wanderers Cricket Club.

Even so, Great Britain would go on to win the match and claim the only Olympic gold medal ever awarded for cricket to date, with France claiming the solitary silver medal.

All that will change in 2028, though, when cricket returns in the from of T20.

WATCH: Select matches from the Rugby World Cup and Cricket World Cup LIVE on SABC Sport

Win-Win situation

IOC president Thomas Bach had described cricket’s inclusion in the LA2028 programme as a “win-win situation” when he spoke about it on Friday.

“The Olympic Games will give cricket a global stage and the opportunity to grow beyond the traditional cricket countries and regions,” Bach said.

“And for the Olympic Movement, it’s the opportunity to engage with fan and athlete communities to which so far we have very little or even no access.”

Bach insisted he did not have to twist the LA organisers’ arms to include cricket on its list of prospective new sports, in spite of it being very much an emerging sport still in the United States.

“It did not take anything to convince them,” the German said.

“The idea first came up in a dinner I shared with Casey Wasserman (the chairman of LA 2028) at the athletics World Championships in Eugene last year.

“Casey saw already the great potential (of cricket) and was highlighting it himself. So there was not much work to do, if any.”

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Game-changer for cricket

Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley welcomed the sport’s inclusion in the 2028 programme and hoped it would remain in place for the Brisbane Games in 2032.

“This is a game-changer for our sport that is already among the fastest growing in the world,” Hockley said.

“The Olympic Games will undoubtedly increase the global reach of cricket, inspiring a whole new generation to love and play the game.

“The opportunity to win an Olympic medal also provides a new and exciting opportunity for our champion women’s and men’s teams.

“We look forward to working with the Australian Olympic Committee in the lead-up to the Los Angeles Games and are hopeful this will be the start of a long-standing relationship between cricket and the Olympics, including for Brisbane 2032.”

Other sports to be included in the 2028 Olympics

Squash, baseball/softball, lacrosse and flag football will also be included in the Olympic programme at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

The proposal was approved at the International Olympic Committee Session in Mumbai on Monday, with only two delegates voting against the new events.

Lacrosse is back for the first time as a medal sport since 1908, while baseball has featured at the Olympics several times.

Flag football, a non-contact format of American football, and squash are included for the first time.

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) hailed flag football’s inclusion at LA.

The Olympics is the ultimate dream

Diana Flores, the chair of the IFAF athletes committee, said: “To compete in the Olympic Games is the ultimate dream of every athlete, and millions of flag football players around the world will go to sleep dreaming of Los Angeles 2028 tonight.

“I want to thank everyone who has made this possible – including all my fellow athletes and ambassadors who have played such a central role in driving the project forward.

“Together, we are determined to use this incredible stage to showcase the best of flag football – its speed, athleticism and creativity, and also its power to transform lives and include new communities in sports.

“As an athlete community, we are proud to be leading the way, but our goal must be to use this opportunity to inspire, lift up and empower a new generation around the world.”

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