Mumbai: Cricket on Monday got the final seal of approval to be part of the Olympic Games again.
After Los Angeles Games organising officials proposed five disciplines, including cricket, to be included in the 2028 Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board had recommended the same on Friday.
On Monday, the proposal was put to vote at the annual IOC Session, which is being held in Mumbai this year.
Cricket (T20), along with flag football, baseball-softball, lacrosse and squash, cleared the last hurdle comfortably as all five were voted in as a single package with only two ‘no’ votes among 90 IOC members.
Cricket will thus feature in the Olympics for the first time since 1900.
Squash and flag football will be on the Olympic schedule for the first time ever.
Flag football is a non-contact format of American football played by teams of five.
Baseball has featured in several Olympic Games before, most recently in 2020, while softball — the women’s counterpart – figured at five editions.
Lacrosse has been contested at five previous Games, with medals being awarded in 1904 and 1908, while in 1928, 1932 and 1948, it was held as a demonstration sport.
Lacrosse sixes — which features four eight-minute quarters — is a variant of the established 10-a-side format, and will take place in Los Angeles.
Breakdance, which will make its Olympic debut in the Paris Games next year, won’t return for the 2028 Games.
