With competitions starting from July 12, Cricket is ready to make its historic comeback in the Olympics after 128 years in LA 2028 Games. The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that both men and women’s T20 format tournaments will be held, in which each six teams will be competed for gold, silver, and bronze medals.The Fairground Stadium in Pamina, located about 50 km from Los Angeles, will serve as a cricket site for the Games. Officially named Fairplex, the feature extends up to about 500 acres of land, and has been hosting the Los Angeles County Fair since 1922 and regularly serves as a place for various events including music, business shows, sports programs and cultural ceremonies.Go beyond the border with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!The competition program released by the LA 2028 organizers shows that most of the matches will have double header facility, with the game starting at 9:30 am (IST) and 6:30 pm (6:30 am (7 am the next day). The organizers have specifically mentioned that no cricket match will be scheduled on 14 and 21 July during the Olympics.Both programs will allocate 90 athlete quota per gender, allowing teams to field 15-member squads.The previous, and only, the Olympic appearance Paris was in 1900, where only two teams – Great Britain and France – competed in a one -two -day match, which is now recognized as an informal test. Great Britain emerged victorious claiming the gold medal.
The inclusion of the game in La 2028 follows its growing appearance in major multi-game events. Cricket has previously shown for men in Kuala Lumpur at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, while women’s cricket started its Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022.The T20 format has also been a part of the Asian Games, with both men and women tournaments held in 2010, 2014 and 2023.Read | Satya Nadella column: Cricket in USA a homecoming, not arrivalCricket LA is included in four other new sports approved by IOC for LA 2028, including baseball/softball, flag football, lacros (sixes) and squash. Squash, another new Olympic game is expected, who expects to attract important Indian interest, will hold its program at the Universal City Squash Center in Los Angeles from July 15, with a medal match for July 23 and 24.The growing presence of cricket in the United States is clear from hosting several 2024 T20 World Cup matches at three places – Grand Perry, Lodderhil and New York, jointly hosted with the West Indies as part of the tournament.