Cricket’s return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028 represents far more than the revival of a sport absent since 1900. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) believes cricket can unlock billions of new viewers, particularly in India and South Asia, while helping the Games reach younger audiences.
IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey said cricket offers access to markets where the Olympics have traditionally struggled to build the same level of engagement.
“Cricket will bring to the LA Games audiences that may not necessarily tune in regularly to watch the Olympic Games,” Ducrey told Reuters.
“It’s a win-win compromise where we’ll give them more opportunities, and they will definitely strengthen our appeal in markets that are very strongly interested in cricket and sometimes mostly in cricket.”
The IOC estimates cricket has around 2.5 billion followers worldwide. Officials also confirmed strong interest in broadcasting rights for the Indian subcontinent, with the value expected to exceed the estimated $30 million agreement for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
An IOC spokesperson said discussions with broadcasters across the region remain ongoing.
“We can confirm that there has been strong interest from the market, reflecting both the momentum behind the LA28 Olympic Games and the addition of cricket to the sports programme.”
Cricket’s Olympic return became possible through the rise of Twenty20 cricket. Its three-hour format solved the scheduling challenges that prevented Test cricket and one-day internationals from fitting into the Olympic programme.
International Cricket Council chief executive Sanjog Gupta said T20’s pace and global reach make it ideal for the Games.
“The jeopardy or the unpredictability that live sports benefit from is maximised in this format,” Gupta told Reuters.
“It’s global, more accessible and representative. T20 ticks all the right boxes.”
The decision concludes a process that began after the IOC recognised the ICC in 2010 and accelerated following Olympic reforms that allowed host cities to propose additional sports.
Cricket’s commercial growth has also strengthened its Olympic case. The Indian Premier League has become one of the world’s most valuable sports competitions, with an estimated valuation of around $20 billion and approximately 1.2 billion viewers during the 2026 season.
The sport also offers an audience profile the Olympic movement wants to reach. According to Gupta, nearly half of cricket followers are under 35, while 35 per cent are younger than 27.
“As the Olympic movement looks to the future of its own significance and relevance of sport in various markets, cricket can potentially play a huge role in driving that forward,” Gupta said.
With Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympics and India bidding for the 2036 Games, cricket appears well placed to remain part of the Olympic programme beyond Los Angeles.
