ICC Open to Collaboration with IOC for Cricket’s Inclusion in Youth Olympics

William Glenwright, the General Manager of Development at the ICC, was emailed a proposal by Vivek Gopalan. The suggestion was well received by Glenwright, who responded, "It's a good idea and something we could look at."

According to Cricbuzz, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has indicated that it is open to collaborate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bring cricket to the Youth Olympics in 2030.

The Indian government’s announcement from the previous year, revealing its intention to bid for both the 2036 Olympics and the 2030 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Mumbai, served as the basis for the ICC’s statement.

William Glenwright, the General Manager of Development at the ICC, was emailed a proposal by Vivek Gopalan. The suggestion was well received by Glenwright, who responded, “It’s a good idea and something we could look at.”

In order to make sure that important stakeholders were aware of the possible project, Gopalan and Glenwright’s email also went to Wasim Khan, Claire Furlong, Chris Tetley, and CEO of the ICC, Geoff Allardice.

Gopanal argues that Mumbai’s bid to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) shows how strong cricket is. “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,” he said in another letter to the ICC official.

In October of the previous year, during his speech at the IOC session held in Mumbai, Modi made reference to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). But as of late, the Indian government has been focusing on putting in a proposal to host the Olympic Games in 2036.

The Prime Minister stressed this change in emphasis in his Independence Day speech, which he gave from the famous Red Fort.

An ICC representative was emailed, making a compelling argument for cricket’s inclusion in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

The message highlighted that “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.”

The email focused on the possible effects of adding cricket on the grassroots growth of the game, especially in nations that are ICC members. Young cricket players may be able to display their abilities on a worldwide level by competing in the YOG, which includes athletes between the ages of 15 and 18.

The mail further notes, “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.”

There are plans to introduce cricket back to the Olympic Games. The sport will compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, according to the IOC. This will be its first Olympics since the 1900 Paris Games.

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