ICC provides massive update on inclusion of cricket in Youth Olympics

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is working on including Cricket in the Youth Olympics 2030. As per the reports in Cricbuzz, it is learned that the governing body is working with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include sport in the biggest sporting event.

The International Cricket Council is keen to include cricket in the Youth Olympics as the government of India declared last year that they intend to bid for the 2030 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). This comes after the Cricket was included in the Olympics for 2028, which is all set to take place in Los Angeles.

ICC's General Manager of Development William Glenwright responded to Vivek Gopalan's email positively. As per the reports in Cricbuzz, the ICC official wrote "It's a good idea and something we could look at." It is learned that Gopalan also copied CEO Geoff Allardice, Wasim Khan, Claire Furlong, and Chris Tetley in his mail.

The reports in Cricbuzz stated that Vivek Gopalan highlighted the impact of cricket in the youth Olympics which might take place in Mumbai. He also wrote about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's desire to host the youth Olympics. He stated:

"There is a strong for cricket at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) with Mumbai bidding to host 2030 YOG. No less a person than Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now publicly proclaimed India's desire to host both the 2030 YOG and 2036 Olympics."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted in October last year about hosting the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) while addressing the IOC session in Mumbai. The government is also keen to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. PM Modi also talked about this during his Independence Day speech.

Email to ICC for the inclusion of cricket in the Youth Olympics

The email to the International Cricket Council officials for the inclusion of cricket in the Youth Olympics has posed several questions asking them why cricket isn't there when other major sports are there. The email read:

"All top sports, including Rugby Sevens, are part of the YOG. Why not Cricket? Including Cricket in the YOG would revolutionize grassroots cricket globally, especially among the ICC Associates."

"Now that ICC has formed strong links with IOC and IOC recognizes that the "cricket brand " can enhance the "Olympic Brand " it would not be a difficult task to convince IOC to include Cricket as a core sport in the Youth Olympics."

The age limit for participants in the YOG is between 15 and 18. Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Field hockey, Football, Futsal, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Modern pentathlon, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wrestling are the games that will feature in YOG.