Is cricket part of Paris 2024?
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The cricket world was excited when the sport was added to the Olympic program at the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai, India, last year. This decision by the IOC's top decision-making body opened the door for cricket's return to the Olympics.
However, cricket will not be seen at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Instead, fans will have to wait until the Los Angeles 2028 Games to see their favorite sport on the Olympic stage.
Here are the key reasons:
1. Paris 2024 Sports Approval:
- The sports lineup for the Paris 2024 Olympics was approved during the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June 2019.
- Cricket was not among the proposed sports for Paris 2024.
2. Other Proposed Sports:
- Sports such as squash, billiards, and chess were proposed for inclusion in Paris 2024 but were not selected.
3. New Additions to Paris 2024:
- Breaking (breakdancing) will be making its Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
- Surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing, which debuted at Tokyo 2020, will return for Paris 2024.
- Breaking will not be included in the LA 2028 Olympic program.
4. Cricket in LA 2028:
- Cricket will feature in the T20 format, with both men's and women's competitions.
- This format was successfully used at the Asian Games last year and at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
5. Other Sports for LA 2028:
- Alongside cricket, the LA28 Organising Committee recommended the inclusion of baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash.
- These recommendations were formally approved by the IOC in Mumbai.
6. Cricket's Olympic History:
- Cricket was last included in the Olympics at the Paris 1900 Games.
- Only two teams, Great Britain and France, competed in a two-day 'Test' match.
- Great Britain, represented by players from the Devon and Somerset Wanderers Club, won the gold medal. The French team consisted of staff from the British embassy in Paris.
Despite its global popularity, cricket has not featured in the Olympic program since 1900. The qualification process for cricket at LA 2028 will be announced later.
Source: olympics.com