Isn’t it surprising that the world’s second most popular sport isn’t included in this four-year global sports extravaganza? We want cricket to be the center of attention on this global athletic stage, yet the last time it did so was in 1904. There have been rumors that cricket would be included in the 2024 Olympics, and the ICC has been lobbying hard for this to happen.
The Olympics is a worldwide platform where a diverse group of athletes competes in a variety of sports to represent their nations. When an athlete earns a medal on the world’s most prestigious stage, it is an immensely proud occasion. The gentleman’s game has not appeared in any edition since the 1900s due to a lack of interest among partner nations and apprehension from various cricket bodies across the world.
Many factors prevent cricket from being included in the mega event, including high logistical costs, a separate venue, and its sluggish speed, which makes it unpopular in comparison to other sports. This, however, is not a ground for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban the sport.
Large Audience
Except for football, cricket has a massive following base that rivals that of any other sport in the globe. A total of 107 nations are actively playing cricket and delighting their supporters, and there is a cricket enthusiast in every country. Cricket is followed by about 2.5 billion people globally, the majority of whom are Indians. Consider the enthusiasm that an Indo-Pak match in the Olympics would generate. Thousands of fans will tune in to see their favorite team compete on a global stage, making the sport a popular commodity in even the smallest nations.
Twenty20 Cricket
The enormous amount of time necessary to run a cricket tournament is one of the reasons why cricket has yet to be featured in the Olympics. Cricket has never been the same since the advent of the T20, whether you like it or not. The reorganization of numerous leagues and tournaments to accommodate T20 cricket has broadened the game’s appeal to new groups and countries, shattering preconceived notions about what cricket is. T20 cricket combines traits with recent Olympic additions such as rugby sevens, sport climbing, surfing, and BMX cycling in that it is thrilling, dynamic, and fast-paced. For the modern Olympic fan, T20 cricket is a modern game.
Team sport
The Olympics are a fantastic advertisement for all things health and fitness, but certainly, the lack of team sports causes people to overlook concepts such as collaboration and communication. Cricket relies significantly on these factors. How many times has a lack of communication resulted in a runout? Put these abilities on show in front of the entire globe, and perhaps a few people who have never considered team sports before will pick up a few tips.
Women’s Cricket and Young Players
Cricket, like football, should have a team consisting of three senior players and the remainder of the squad made up of U-23 or U-21 players. In this manner, young cricketers will have the opportunity to represent their nation on a global scale, and instead of competing in several primary leagues throughout the world, they will be able to concentrate on a single competition. Women’s cricket will benefit greatly from this, as they will be able to play on such a large platform. Other European and African nations will compete in the Olympics, providing a huge boost to the sport.
National Pride
Cricket is slowly but steadily becoming one of the most popular and watched sports in the world. Cricket may also soon overtake football in popularity and growth, according to certain estimates. The Olympics instill a sense of pride in you. Imagine countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, which have little Olympic history, competing for gold and representing their country. There’s no higher feeling than representing your nation on such a large stage and winning medals.
