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[Saba Sports News] The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed interest in collaborating with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include cricket in the 2030 Youth Olympics. This comes after the Indian government’s announcement last year that it plans to bid for the 2030 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Mumbai, along with a bid for the 2036 Olympics.
In response to an email from Vivek Gopalan, ICC’s General Manager of Development, William Glenwright, showed support for the idea, stating, “It’s a good idea and something we could look at.” The email, which was also sent to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice and other key officials, suggests that cricket’s inclusion in the YOG could significantly boost grassroots cricket globally, particularly among ICC Associate nations.
Gopalan highlighted that with Mumbai bidding to host the 2030 YOG, there is strong potential for cricket’s inclusion. He also noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly expressed India’s desire to host both the 2030 YOG and the 2036 Olympics. While India’s focus has shifted to the 2036 Olympics, Modi mentioned the YOG during an IOC session in Mumbai.
The email to the ICC emphasized that many top sports, including Rugby Sevens, are already part of the YOG, and including cricket could further enhance the “Olympic Brand.” The age limit for YOG participants is between 15 and 18.
Cricket is already set to be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for the first time since the 1900 Paris Games. The YOG currently features sports like Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Rugby Sevens, and many others.