International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry said on Friday that the return of cricket to the Olympic program will further strengthen relations between India and the Olympic movement.
SPORTS NEWS: Cricket is set to return to the Olympic Games after 128 years, and regarding this historic decision, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry has stated that it will deepen relations between India and the Olympic movement. Cricket will be included in the T20 format at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, providing one of the world's most popular sports with a global platform once again.
The IOC President said on Friday that the return of cricket would lead to a significant increase in the popularity of the Olympics in a sports-loving country like India. She expressed hope that this would result in a substantial surge in both Indian audience participation and enthusiasm.
What did Coventry say?
'The return of cricket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will strengthen the relationship between India and the Olympic movement. It will bring the magic of sports even closer to Indian fans.'
She also informed that the IOC is currently in the process of determining media broadcasting rights for the Olympic Games in India. According to her, "In India, we are conducting an open tender process for Olympic broadcasting rights. Our objective is to choose the right media partner to deliver the magic of the Olympic Games to every corner of this extraordinary country."
Cricket Returns After 128 Years
In Olympic history, cricket was last played at the Paris Olympics in 1900, where only two teams – Great Britain and France – participated. After that, the sport was excluded from the Olympic program. Now, 128 years later, cricket is set to return in the T20 format at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The decision to include cricket is a huge celebration not only for South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka but also for traditional cricket nations such as Australia, England, and the Caribbean countries. Experts believe this will significantly increase the global viewership of the Olympics.
India's Role in 2036 Olympics
Coventry also commented on India's prospects. She stated that India is a country that is continuously progressing in the field of sports and confidently moving forward for the future. India has officially submitted its bid to host the 2036 Olympics, with Ahmedabad proposed as a potential host city. The IOC President said that India possesses the full capability to host global sporting events, backed by its sports infrastructure and young talent.
