IOC Formally Approves Five Sports, Squash Among Them, For 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; ICC Reacts

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially inducted men's and women's T20 cricket, squash, baseball/softball, flag football, and lacrosse (sixes) as extra sports for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on Monday during its 141st Session.

The IOC's Executive Board (EB) and Olympic Programme Commission (OPC) evaluated and approved the five sports that the LA28 Organising Committee offered as a package for their particular Games edition.

Following a vote by raise of hands on the Executive Board's recommendation, IOC President Thomas Bach announced the inclusion of cricket along with other sports.

"The selection of these five new sports is consistent with American sports culture and will introduce international sports to the US while showcasing iconic US sports to the global audience. The Olympic Games LA28 will be unique because of these sports, according to Bach.

"Incorporating them will enable the Olympic Movement to interact with fresh athlete and fan bases both domestically and internationally," he continued.

The world's most populous country, India, has a huge cricket fan base. The BCCI, which supports the ICC's Olympic bid, also played a significant role in the ICC's inclusion in the LA28 schedule.

After years of opposition due to concerns about a potential threat to its autonomy, the BCCI finally changed its position in 2021 and supported the game's inclusion in the Summer Games.

While pitching to the IOC here, Niccolo Campriani, the sports director at LA28 and an Olympic shooter from Italy, mentioned the popularity of Indian superstar Virat Kohli.

"We are thrilled that cricket's inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games has been confirmed by the IOC Session today," said ICC Chairman Greg Barclay in response to the news. For players and fans alike, it will be fantastic to have the chance to represent our wonderful sport at the LA28 Games and, hopefully, many more Olympic Games to come.

"I express my gratitude to the International Olympic Committee and LA28 for their unwavering support and faith in our organization's ability to produce an exceptional event and attract a multitude of new global Olympic enthusiasts." It's the cherry on top that the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup was taking place in Mumbai at the same time as the IOC confirmed our selection. We are excited to follow this amazing journey to its next destination, even though the innings has just begun.