KOLKATA: International Cricket Council chief executive officer David Richardson is hopeful that cricket will become an Olympic sport by the time 2028 Games in Los Angeles comes around, but admits that global powerhouse India needs to come on board to the idea for it to have any chance of fruition.
Stating that the ICC is already late in formally applying to the International Olympic Committee to include the game in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, IANS quotes Richardson as having said they will continue talks with the IOC, emphasizing the value cricket can add to the Olympic Games.
“…Assuming that we can get all of cricket united in a desire to be a part of Olympics, then I think we would have a very good chance in persuading the IOC that cricket is a sport that can add value to the Olympics going forward,” Richardson told reporters on the final day of a week of ICC meetings here Thursday.
“The Olympics are going be held in Paris in 2024 and in Los Angeles in 2028. Already we have missed the boat for applying to the IOC through the front door to get the right to participate. We can go to Paris, talk with them and continue the talks in Los Angeles in due course and hopeful by 2028 we will have cricket in the Olympics,” he said.
The official said the ICC’s decision to engage more nations in global cricketing events through the T20 format will help them move an application to the IOC for the right to participate in the Olympics.
He also said the ICC has to resolve an issue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Indian Olympic Association to take the issue forward.
