ICC considers including cricket in 2030 Youth Olympics
According to Cricbuzz, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering to collaborate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to introduce cricket at the 2030 Youth Olympics. This development comes in response to India's announcement last year of its intention to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Mumbai, and the 2036 Olympics. William Glenwright, ICC's General Manager of Development, expressed his support for this initiative.
Glenwright supports cricket's inclusion in YOG
Glenwright responded to Vivek Gopalan's email, stating, "It's a good idea (the proposal of cricket's inclusion in YOG) and something we could look at." This exchange was also shared with ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, Wasim Khan, Claire Furlong, and Chris Tetley. Gopalan had argued for the inclusion of cricket in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), citing Mumbai's bid to host the 2030 YOG as a strong reason.
PM Modi's support for India's Olympic bids
Gopalan highlighted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public endorsement of India's ambition to host both the 2030 YOG and 2036 Olympics. Modi had alluded to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) during an IOC session in Mumbai last October. However, recently, the Indian government has shifted its focus toward bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games — a point reiterated by PM Modi in his Independence Day address from Red Fort.
Case for cricket's inclusion in YOG
Gopalan's email to the ICC official presented several arguments for including cricket in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). He pointed out that all top sports, including Rugby Sevens, are part of the YOG and questioned why cricket should be excluded. He further argued that incorporating cricket into the YOG could revolutionize grassroots cricket globally, particularly among ICC Associates. The age limit for participants in the YOG is between 15 and 18.
ICC and IOC's relationship could boost cricket's inclusion
Gopalan also emphasized the strong ties between the ICC and IOC, suggesting that the "cricket brand" could enhance the "Olympic Brand." He expressed confidence that it would not be a challenging task to persuade IOC to include cricket as a core sport in the Youth Olympics. This proposal comes as cricket is set to make its return in Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, after a long hiatus since 1900 Paris Games.
