Cricket set to be brought into Olympics at expense of baseball and softball
Cricket could feature at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
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Cricket is reportedly set to be added to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
According to the Daily Mail, there is 'growing consternation in the United Sports' that the sport will be included at the expense of baseball and softball.
It's claimed a decision had been expected to be announced on Friday.
However, following 'intense' negotiations between the International Olympic Committee and LA28, that's now been delayed.
IOC chief Thomas Bach has hinted at cricket featuring at the Olympics in the future
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LA28 are said to know that baseball and software would be a guaranteed sell-out at the Olympics.
They also think cricket 'may struggle to attract stadium audiences'.
However, the IOC are described as being 'desperate' with the board hoping to get cricket onto the programme to kick-start an Indian bid for the 2023 Games.
The IOC supposedly have tapping into the Indian Market 'high' on their agenda.
And despite the popularity of both baseball and softball, both sports may end up being 'marginalised'.
IOC president Thomas Bach recently hinted about the inclusion of cricket at the Olympics, saying: "It could make sense. You know, I cannot hide that, I'm really a fan of cricket.
"I was even playing once. I was in Fiji, we were walking across a sports field.
"There were women playing cricket and then my spokesperson, who is an ardent fan of cricket, said 'now you have to play'.
"So we went to this women's cricket team and they allowed me to play with them for some moments.
"Now it's in the hands of the Organising Committee of LA to make a proposal.
"From today on, it should be exactly a week so let's see when the proposal is coming.
"I think you can imagine from my answers what my answer to such a request would be."
England women's team spinner Sarah Glenn has also backed cricket being included - and would love the chance to play in LA.
“Definitely, cricket is a sport that can fit anywhere and it would be exciting if that happens,” she said.
“It will be a weird feeling because we are used to driving towards the World Cup and Ashes, they are such unique events for us.
“It will have a weird feeling to start with but it would develop into something that we would really want to win and take charge of, a bit like when we were in the Commonwealth Games.
“We didn’t know what to expect, the opening ceremony was very different, but once we got out there it was just a game of cricket.
“Hopefully, it could also open cricket to a new audience that is invested in the Olympic Games. We always want to push our game forward.”
Another sport that looks set to appear in LA is 'Obstacle'.
The sport features a Ninja-warrior like course and has already been introduced to the Modern Pentathlon programme.
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The next Olympic Games is in Paris in 2024
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And former Olympic star Jamie Cooke believes it has the potential to excite and thrill fans.
“I think the sport is perfect for the modern Olympics, to try and become the best all-around athlete,” he recently told the Daily Express.
“With the physical demands of swimming, the aerobic demands of running, and then the tactical technical demands of the skill-based sport.
“So it's just like the shooting and fencing, but a sport that really captures everything."
He added: "It is now a very, very exciting discipline to do and to watch."