Cricket's much-anticipated inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics received a shot in the arm as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shortlisted it for a review along with eight other sporting disciplines. (More Cricket News)
Cricket has only featured once at the 1900 Paris ☂Olympic Games, with Great Britain and hosts France as only participants.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, The development comes a day after the International Cricket Committee (ICC) was formally💯 invited by both the LA28 and IOC to submit presentation in order to make their case considered.
However, a final decision is expected to be announced ahead of the Inte🀅rnational Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai sometime in mid-2023.
The other eight sports in consideration for the showpiece event are baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, break dancing, karate, kick-boxing, squash, and motorsport.
In February this year, the IOC said that a total of 28 sportinꦏg events will be part of the Los Angeles Games and also added that the 'potential new sports' will be con🔥sidered with a focus on youth.
As per IOC diktat, a sport should clear some set of criteria in order to be considered fo💫r inclusion.
This includes priorities to cost and complexity reduction, engagiಌng the best athletes and sports with safety and health first, global appeal, host country interest, gender equality, youth relevance, upholding integrity and fairness to support clean sports, and long-term sustainability.
Cricket is currently being featured in the ongoing Commonwealth Games with the women's T20 format be𒁏ing played among eight nations, albeit only the women's teams are participating in it.
However, for a sporting event to be featured at the Olympic Games, it must be for both men and women.
ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said he was pleased the way the cricket was viewed during the Birmingham Games and the sport has been a "star attraction" at the showpiece eve𝐆nt.
"We've seen from the Commonwealth Games how much the world's best players have enjoyed playing in front of big crowds and what I'm sure🌠 will be large TV audiences,&qu𝓰ot; Allardice told the website.
