That the expected addition of cricket as a medal sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will result in a significant rise in India territory media rights value is a given. The big question of course would be by how much.
Well UK’s Guardian newspaper has reported some numbers. Per the daily, the Olympic broadcast rights value in India are for the Paris 2024 Games is Rs 160 crore ($19 million). However, Guardian quotes experts as aguing that the rights for LA28 will go for approximately Rs 1,550 crore ($185 million) now that cricket is likely to be added. A women’s and men’s tournament is likely in Los Angeles to tap into the lucrative Asian subcontinent commercial market.
If said experts are right on the money that would mean a 974% increase in rights value for the LA Games. Keeping in mind that the biggest disadvantage of the Americas is that the unfriendly (for India) time difference, that assessment appears a tad optimistic. Having said that, when it comes to India and cricket, sceptics are more often than not proved wrong.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) released an official statement to announce the inclusion of cricket which reads, “After a two-year process, in which ICC worked closely with LA28, the list of sports to be added in LA included cricket, which will now be put forward for approval to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).”
ICC chairman Greg Barclay said: “We are delighted that LA28 have recommended cricket for inclusion in the Olympics. Whilst this is not the final decision, it is a very significant landmark towards seeing cricket at the Olympics for the first time in more than a century. I’d like to thank LA28 for their support during the new sport evaluation process over last two years and we look forward to the final decision being taken at the IOC Session, in India, during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup next week.”
Squash, baseball-softball, flag football (a limited-contact version of American football) and lacrosse are the other sports proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee for inclusion at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in five years’ time, pending approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The five sports are expected to officially ratified at the 141st IOC session in Mumbai, which begins on Sunday.
Cricket has been played once before at the Olympics, in 1900, when England and France played a single match. The T20 format is likely to be used at the 2028 Games. It is highly likely to be retained for the Games in Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.
