ICC looking to collaborate with IOC for cricket’s inclusion at Youth Olympics 2030

The International Cricket Council is looking to work jointly with the International Olympic Committee for the inclusion of cricket in the Youth Olympic Games in 2030. ICC’s General Manager of Development, William Glenwright, welcomed the idea presented by an email by a certain Vivek Gopalan.

“There is a strong case for cricket at the Youth Olympic Games with Mumbai bidding to host the 2030 YOG. No less a person than Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has now publicly proclaimed India’s desire to host both the 2030 YOG and the 2036 Olympics,” stated Gopalan in a proposal to the ICC.

“It’s a good idea and something we could look at,” Glenwright replied to the email.

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It has also been reported that Gopalan’s initiating message as well as Glenwright’s reply were copied to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice and board members Wasim Khan, Claire Furlong, and Chris Tetley.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted at cricket getting integrated to the Youth Olympic Games while addressing the IOC session in Mumbai last October. Of late, however, the Indian Government’s focus has shifted to bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games – a point PM Modi reiterated during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort in New Delhi on August 15, 2024.

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The email to the ICC official further pressed for the incorportation of cricket in the YOG by presenting several compelling arguments, including the enhancement it would bring to grassroots and associate nations. It also suggested that considering the strengthened bond between the ICC and IOC, embracing cricket as a part of the YOG shouldn’t be as challenging as it seems to be.

“All top sports, including Rugby Sevens, are part of the YOG. Why not cricket? Including cricket in the YOG would revolutionize grassroots cricket globally, especially among the ICC Associates. Now that the ICC has formed strong links with the IOC and the IOC recognizes that the “cricket brand ” can enhance the “Olympic Brand”, it would not be a difficult task to convince the IOC to include cricket as a core sport in the Youth Olympics,” read the mail drafted to the ICC.

The age limit for participants in the YOG is between 15 and 18.

The bunch of disciplines that feature in the YOG entail archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, diving, equestrian, fencing, field hockey, football, futsal, golf, gymnastics, handball, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, Rugby Sevens, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.

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