Cricket edges closer to Olympic inclusion

Cricket has taken a major stride towards potential inclusion in the Olympics after Games chiefs on Thursday voted to recognise the governing International Cricket Council (ICC).

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), meeting in Vancouver, also said it would recognise the federations of sport climbing and power boating.

“They are recognised federations by us, which now means that they can take part in IOC events,” said IOC director of communications Mark Adams, adding it could be seen as a first step towards becoming Olympic sports.

Cricket was granted the status of a “recognised” Olympic sport in 2007, for sports not in the Olympic programme but which confirm to certain criteria such as universality, for a two-year period, pending a decision on making the move permanent.

But despite calls from the likes of former Australia star Adam Gilchrist for Twenty20 to be included, the ICC currently has no imminent plans to bid for the format to included.

Cricket was part of the 1900 Olympics in Paris and has not appeared since, but it is set to feature at this year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, and has been in the Commonwealth Games as recently as 1998.

Recent additions to the Olympic sports roster include golf and rugby sevens.—AFP