New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has hinted that it might get into collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a bid to include cricket in the Youth Olympics 2030. It comes after the declaration from the Government of India last year on intending to bid for the 2030 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Mumbai, except from showing interest in hosting the Olympics in 2036.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, the General Manager of Development for ICC, William Glenwright gave a positive reply to Vivek Gopalan in an email as he stated, “It’s a good idea and something we could look at.” The email and the reply were shared with ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, Wasim Khan, Claire Furlong, and Chris Tetley as well.
Gopalan had argued for the inclusion of cricket in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), citing Mumbai’s bid to host the Games with a strong reason. He said, “There is a strong for cricket at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) with Mumbai bidding to host 2030 YOG.” He also conveyed it to an ICC official, stating that “No less a person than Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now publicly proclaimed India’s desire to host both the 2030 YOG and 2036 Olympics.”
PM Modi had hinted at the YOG during his address at an IOC session in Mumbai last October. But with the 2024 Olympics taking centerstage, the focus shifted to India bidding for the hosting rights of the 2036 Olympics. PM Modi had also restated this during his Independence Day address at the Red Fort.
Inclusion of cricket – on what grounds?
The email sent to the ICC official includes several arguments to root for inclusion of cricket in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). It read, “All top sports, including Rugby Sevens, are part of the YOG. Why not Cricket? Including Cricket in the YOG would revolutionize grassroots cricket globally, especially among the ICC Associates.”
For those unversed, the age limit for participants in the YOG is between 15 and 18. “Now that ICC has formed strong links with IOC and IOC recognizes that the “cricket brand ” can enhance the “Olympic Brand,” it would not be a difficult task to convince IOC to include Cricket as a core sport in the Youth Olympics,” the email further read. Cricket will make its debut in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 for the first time since the 1900 Paris Games.
Following are the disciplines that are already a part of the YOG – Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Field hockey, Football, Futsal, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Modern pentathlon, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
As per a report, after cricket’s successful inclusion in the 2028 Olympics, the ICC is mulling over the game’s debut in the Youth Olympics 2030 as well. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
