Cricket is set to make its Olympic return in 2028, potentially being staged in New York, which is more than 2,000 miles from the host city, Los Angeles. This marks the sport's first appearance in the Games since 1900.
Although no formal proposals have been made, representatives from LA28 and the International Olympic Committee recently visited the T20 World Cup, observing matches at the Nassau County stadium in Long Island, and were reportedly impressed. Attracting large South Asian markets such as India and Pakistan is seen as a significant advantage, potentially boosting local ticket sales and aligning with international time zones. Cricket is one of the five sports approved for the 2028 Olympics games, which also include lacrosse, flag football, softball/baseball and squash.
IOC President Thomas Bach commented:
"We are ready to welcome the world's best players of cricket to perform in the United States in 2028, while showcasing iconic American sports to the world.
We see the growing popularity of cricket, particularly the T20 format. The Olympic Games will give cricket a global stage and the opportunity to grow beyond the traditional cricket countries and regions.
"For the Olympic Movement, it's the opportunity to engage with fan and athlete communities to which so far we have very little or even no access."
This was welcome news to the cricket community, with social media platforms and news outlets already making predictions on which nation will reign supreme in Los Angeles.
"In particular I'm delighted that the Games will feature both men's and women's cricket, and have no doubt that featuring in the Olympics will accelerate the continuing and rapid growth of the women's game."
A 10:30 am start in New York's summer would coincide with an 8:00 pm prime-time broadcast in India, while Los Angeles, three hours behind, presents scheduling challenges.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), who are currently in New York for the T20 World Cup, have been collaborating closely with Olympic teams in New York to discuss logistics like drop-in pitches and tournament organisation. It is believed that they favour a venue in Los Angeles. The ICC values the integration with other sports and athletes, allowing cricket participants to experience the opening ceremony and life in the athletes' village.
The temporary cricket stadium setup at Nassau County is seen as a replicable model for Los Angeles. The time zone challenge could be addressed with floodlit pitches and evening starts, making matches available in the morning for key markets like India.
Staging events far from the host city is not unprecedented. Windsurfing for the Paris 2024 Olympics will take place in Tahiti, and equestrian events for Beijing 2008 were held in Hong Kong. Similarly, during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, six football matches were played in Boston, around 3,000 miles away.
