NEW DELHI: Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting expressed his belief that the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles would open the sport to a new audience. He emphasized that this opportunity will expand the reach and popularity of cricket.
The sport of cricket has been absent from the Olympic stage since its last appearance in 1900. However, after a long hiatus, cricket will make a triumphant return at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The LA28 Organizing Committee proposed including cricket along with four other sports: baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse and squash.
In October last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) formally approved the inclusion of cricket during the 141st IOC Session, held in Mumbai. This decision marks an important milestone for the sport and its fans around the world.
“It can only be a positive thing for our game. I’ve sat on various committees for the last 15 or 20 years and it’s always been at the top of almost every agenda – how do we get back to the Olympics? And finally, there we are.”
“Only four more years. Once again, in the US at that stage, hopefully, with MLC (Premier League Cricket), another four years down the track hopefully growing. Who knows, there might even be more teams in MLC now. I also gave cricket a chance to enter the grassroots level in the US.
“But about the Olympics, I mean, it’s not about the host country. It’s about the audience that it opens. The Olympics that are seen by many people around the world, it just opens up to an audience that is very different from ours. The games that seem to be a lot on a daily basis can only be about a real positive for the game,” Ponting said on the latest episode of The ICC Review show, as quoted by IANS.
Ponting, a three-time ODI World Cup winner, recently coached Washington Freedom for this year’s Premier League Cricket title, providing valuable insight into how cricket is perceived in the US.
“Facilities and infrastructure and that will be the key and how many teams actually decide. I think only six or seven teams are talking.”
“Being qualified will be a premium, how you can get into the Olympics. So everything to think about, I’m very excited about the direction of the game and the growth of the different markets that we do. It seems to emerge,” he added in the MLC state.
Ponting also points out how cricket can tap into baseball’s fan base to attract attention and increase its popularity. “And the way I try and compare the two is we’ve all played in a Major League Baseball game. the history of the game, there’s less than one home run scored in every game.”
“So if you compare baseball with the entertainment and entertainment package that T20 cricket brings, it should be an easy sell to young kids in the US. The excitement factor that comes with the game.
“There is a huge opportunity for growth, even with India’s investment in MLC and how persistent they are to stay involved and make it big and turn Washington Freedom into a household name in world cricket. Then I think there are some great opportunities there”.
Ponting concluded by expressing his excitement about the possibility of being a mentor or coach for the Australian team at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. at the Commonwealth Games and just being around the athletes in the village and that stuff is a real environment for cricketers.”
“So, look, I’m not going to say no, but I think there’s going to be a lot of people putting their hands up to try and be a mentor or a coach for the Aussie team at the Olympics. It’s going to be special. to be a part of it, so who knows?
The sport of cricket has been absent from the Olympic stage since its last appearance in 1900. However, after a long hiatus, cricket will make a triumphant return at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The LA28 Organizing Committee proposed including cricket along with four other sports: baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse and squash.
In October last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) formally approved the inclusion of cricket during the 141st IOC Session, held in Mumbai. This decision marks an important milestone for the sport and its fans around the world.
“It can only be a positive thing for our game. I’ve sat on various committees for the last 15 or 20 years and it’s always been at the top of almost every agenda – how do we get back to the Olympics? And finally, there we are.”
“Only four more years. Once again, in the US at that stage, hopefully, with MLC (Premier League Cricket), another four years down the track hopefully growing. Who knows, there might even be more teams in MLC now. I also gave cricket a chance to enter the grassroots level in the US.
“But about the Olympics, I mean, it’s not about the host country. It’s about the audience that it opens. The Olympics that are seen by many people around the world, it just opens up to an audience that is very different from ours. The games that seem to be a lot on a daily basis can only be about a real positive for the game,” Ponting said on the latest episode of The ICC Review show, as quoted by IANS.
Ponting, a three-time ODI World Cup winner, recently coached Washington Freedom for this year’s Premier League Cricket title, providing valuable insight into how cricket is perceived in the US.
“Facilities and infrastructure and that will be the key and how many teams actually decide. I think only six or seven teams are talking.”
“Being qualified will be a premium, how you can get into the Olympics. So everything to think about, I’m very excited about the direction of the game and the growth of the different markets that we do. It seems to emerge,” he added in the MLC state.
Ponting also points out how cricket can tap into baseball’s fan base to attract attention and increase its popularity. “And the way I try and compare the two is we’ve all played in a Major League Baseball game. the history of the game, there’s less than one home run scored in every game.”
“So if you compare baseball with the entertainment and entertainment package that T20 cricket brings, it should be an easy sell to young kids in the US. The excitement factor that comes with the game.
“There is a huge opportunity for growth, even with India’s investment in MLC and how persistent they are to stay involved and make it big and turn Washington Freedom into a household name in world cricket. Then I think there are some great opportunities there”.
Ponting concluded by expressing his excitement about the possibility of being a mentor or coach for the Australian team at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. at the Commonwealth Games and just being around the athletes in the village and that stuff is a real environment for cricketers.”
“So, look, I’m not going to say no, but I think there’s going to be a lot of people putting their hands up to try and be a mentor or a coach for the Aussie team at the Olympics. It’s going to be special. to be a part of it, so who knows?
