Prime Minister Narendra Modi India on Monday said being a cricket-loving nation, India would like to host the tournament in Los Angeles in 2028. olympic games Particularly welcomes the inclusion of cricket. This shows the increasing popularity of this ‘amazing game’ globally. Cricket was officially included in the program of the Los Angeles Olympic Games on Monday. Modi wrote on Twitter, ‘Very happy that baseball-softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash have been included in the Los Angeles Games. This is very good news for the players.
PM Modi said this
PM Narendra Modi said, ‘Being a cricket loving nation, we especially welcome the inclusion of cricket. This shows the increasing popularity of this amazing game at the global level. Let us tell you that cricket was played in the Olympics 128 years ago. Now, after hundreds of years, once again cricket will be seen in the Olympics, its grandeur will be something else.
Broadcast market, role of BCCI and ICC played important role
The billion-dollar broadcasting market, the positive attitude of the game’s most powerful board and the brilliant presentation of the global body played an important role in the inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles in 2028. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been working closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Los Angeles Games Local Organizing Committee for the past two years to include cricket in the Olympics.
Absolutely delighted that baseball-softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash will feature in @LA28, This is great news for sportspersons. As a cricket loving nation, we especially welcome inclusion of cricket, reflecting the rising global popularity of this wonderful… https://t.co/tnwrzqVPfL
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2023
BCCI did this work
The role of the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) cannot be denied in this, whose positive attitude means increasing interest of broadcasters in this. A senior ICC board member told PTI on the condition of anonymity, ‘The BCCI supported it from the beginning, understanding the importance of the global game and especially its partners who stand to gain from being a part of the Olympic movement. After this BCCI Secretary Jai (Shah) joined the working group and supported everything.
ICC gave a great presentation
The presentation made by the ICC to the IOC and the Local Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games 2028 was mainly based on the three principles of universality, popularity and legacy. Universality means the appeal of cricket and the support it provides to the Olympic movement. ICC emphasized that India is the most populous country in the world and has a large TV and digital market. Both the IOC and the local organizing committee will benefit from the broadcast revenue from India.
Popularity is the most important aspect
Popularity is the most important aspect and cricket is the second most popular sport in the world which has huge commercial appeal. When the world’s best cricketers become a part of the Olympic Games, it will only benefit the sports. It will be challenging for cricket to create a legacy in a new market like America but this country will host the T20 World Cup next year and how things will progress can be gauged from this tournament.