The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially welcomed the announcement of the Fairgrounds in Pomona, Southern California, as the venue for cricket’s long-awaited return to the Olympic stage at the Los Angeles 2028 Games (LA28).
This marks a historic moment for the sport, which will be returning to the Olympics after a 128-year hiatus. The cricket competition at LA28 will feature six teams each in both the men’s and women’s T20 formats — the version of the game globally recognized for its fast pace and growing mass appeal.
ICC Chair Jay Shah hailed the development as a significant step forward for the sport’s global outreach. “We welcome the announcement of the venue for cricket at Los Angeles 2028 as it is a significant step towards the preparation for our sport’s return to the Olympics,” said Shah.
“Although cricket is already one of the most popular sports in the world, featuring it in the Olympics through the dynamic T20 format is a golden opportunity to take the game beyond its traditional strongholds and captivate new audiences,” he added.
Expressing gratitude towards the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and LA28 organisers, Shah reaffirmed ICC’s commitment to making cricket a resounding success at the Games. “We look forward to working closely with the IOC, LA28, and our Members in the lead-up to this monumental event,” he said.
Cricket last featured in the Olympics in 1900 at the Paris Games, making LA28 its long-overdue return. The sport was officially included following an IOC session in Mumbai in October 2023.
At LA28, cricket joins four other new additions to the Olympic programme: baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash.
The T20 format, which has played a vital role in the sport’s global expansion, has previously featured in multi-sport events such as the Asian Games (2010, 2014, and 2023) and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, where a women’s competition was held.
As preparations begin for LA28, cricket’s inclusion is being seen as not only a nod to its vast global following but also a strategic move to broaden the Olympic Games’ global appeal.
