New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed potential interest in collaborating with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include cricket in the 2030 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). This possibility arises following the Indian Government’s announcement last year, revealing its plans to bid for the 2030 YOG in Mumbai, alongside the 2036 Olympic Games.
William Glenwright, ICC’s General Manager of Development, responded to an email from Vivek Gopalan, affirming that including cricket in the Youth Olympics is an idea worth exploring. In his email, Glenwright remarked, “It’s a good idea and something we could look at.” This correspondence was also shared with ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, along with Wasim Khan, Claire Furlong, and Chris Tetley, indicating the seriousness of the matter.
Gopalan strongly advocates for the inclusion of cricket in the YOG, particularly with Mumbai’s bid to host the 2030 event. He highlighted the support from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has publicly declared India’s ambition to host both the 2030 YOG and the 2036 Olympics. Modi hinted at the possibility of cricket’s inclusion during his address at the IOC session in Mumbai last October.
The email sent to ICC officials emphasizes the benefits of incorporating cricket into the YOG lineup. It points out, “All top sports, including Rugby Sevens, are part of the YOG. Why not Cricket?” The argument is that adding cricket would significantly boost grassroots development globally, especially among ICC Associate members. With an age limit of 15 to 18 years for participants, the YOG provides an ideal platform to nurture young cricketing talent.
The communication also notes that with ICC’s strengthened ties with the IOC and the mutual recognition that cricket can enhance the Olympic brand, it should not be challenging to include cricket as a core sport in the YOG.
Cricket is already set to make a historic return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking its first appearance since the 1900 Paris Games. The inclusion of cricket in the YOG could further elevate its global profile.
