Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai, Oct 16: Cricket will return to the Olympic fold in the Los Angeles Games in 2028 after a 128-year hiatus, and squash will make its Olympic debut. Following a vote at the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai, both sports were officially added to the Los Angeles Olympics.
Cricket and squash, along with lacrosse, flag football, and baseball/softball, were added to the program for the LA 2028 Olympics. It’s important to highlight that not all members of the IOC supported this decision, as two members voted against it.
Cricket was recommended for inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games by the IOC Executive Board on Friday.
Cricket is scheduled to be a T20 event with six participating teams, and it’s expected that the USA will secure a spot as the host nation. This leaves only five spots for other teams worldwide to compete for. The specific details of the qualification process will be revealed at a later time, according to the IOC.
The last time cricket featured in the Olympics was during the 1900 Paris Games, with only two teams participating: France and Great Britain. They engaged in a two-day Test match, with 12 players on each side. Although the match was not officially recognized as a first-class game, Great Britain emerged victorious.
