Cricket in LA 28 Olympics? ICC remains confident

What is common among cheerleading, flag football, lacrosse, baseball, softball, and cricket? All are competing for a spot in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

In a couple of weeks' time, there could be a better picture of cricket's prospects in its bid to get into the Olympics although the final decision is to be made only next year.

The organisers of LA28 will be calling the seriously contending sporting disciplines to give a presentation next month and the International Cricket Council (ICC), the world governing body of the game, has a serious job on its hand, should it get an invite to Los Angeles. So far no invite has been extended to the ICC, for that matter to any of the aspiring disciplines.

It is understood that the invites are likely to be sent in the next couple of weeks after a thorough understanding of a game's connection to the Olympic movement as well as to the hosting city of LA.

A recent Wall Street Journal report said cricket's time could come in Brisbane 2032 but the ICC officials are confident of inclusion in the LA28. "One of our strategic priorities is to get into the LA Olympics. The decision is made by the IOC in consultation with the LOC of LA28. All we can do is put our best foot forward and hope that cricket is taken into LA," the ICC chairman Greg Barclay told Cricbuzz recently.

He pushed the envelope by raising the point of a one billion fan base. "We believe that there's a unique opportunity in the partnership of cricket, the Olympic Movement and LA2028. We want our global fanbase of one billion-plus to be part of the world's greatest sporting event. We want our best players and most dynamic format to enjoy the unique global platform of the Games," Barclay was quoted as saying by WSJ.

Having already announced 28 disciplines for the Games, LA28 said it is not obliged to include a new sport but it is not against new disciplines. However, the new entrants will have to fit the cap of 10,500 athletes quota fixed by the IOC.

"In February 2022, the IOC announced the 28 Olympic sports in LA28's initial sports program including aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, canoe, cycling, equestrian, fencing, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, skateboarding, soccer, sport climbing, surfing, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, triathlon, volleyball and wrestling.

"Beyond the initial 28 sports, the organizing committee for the LA28 Games has the opportunity, but not an obligation, to propose additional new sports for inclusion in the LA28 Olympic program. In the coming months, LA28 and the IOC will work with international federations to review disciplines with the evaluation criteria. The criteria will also aid in the evaluation of potential new sports for the LA28 Olympic Games," an LA28 spokesperson told this website. Specifically asked if the athletes' quota is flexible, the spokesperson said, "The IOC set the 10,500-athlete quota for the Olympic Games."

Lack of serious infrastructure for the game and major following for cricket in the US are seen as the shortcomings of the ICC's bid but it has put the best foot forward by allotting a World Cup to America (2024 T20 World Cup along with the West Indies). As early as August, India will be traveling to play in the US to play a couple of T20Is against the West Indies.

The ICC will be putting forth these points, along with one billion fan base arguments but first, it will have to come under the 'serious contenders' list of the IOC and LA28 which is likely to be known in the next couple of weeks.