The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive Board on Friday approved the Los Angeles Games organisers’ request to include cricket on the programme, ensuring that the sport will appear in the 2028 Olympics.
In addition to cricket, which will be played in T20 format, the IOC Executive Board, which met here under the leadership of president Thomas Bach, also approved baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash.
During the IOC session, which starts on Sunday, the idea will be put to a vote.
According to Bach, the addition of these five sports—exclusively for the Los Angeles Games 2028—is consistent with American sports culture and will help the Olympic movement engage with new athletes and fan communities both domestically and beyond.
“The IOC had to take three different decisions. (The) first was about the proposal of the Los Angeles organising committee to introduce five new sports. These five sports are baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), squash and cricket,” Bach said during the media briefing after the conclusion of the two-day Executive Board meeting on Friday.
“We see growing popularity of cricket, particularly the T20 format. The World Cup (50 overs) is a huge success already,” he added.
The shortest format of cricket is one of five sports proposed exclusively for the Los Angeles Games in 2028, along with baseball-softball, lacrosse (sixes), squash, and flag football. If accepted, which is expected to happen, cricket will be included in the Olympics for the first time since it was first played.
“Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash are the five sports submitted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Executive Board (EB) to the upcoming IOC Session as additional sports for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28),” the IOC said in a statement.