In a move that could see cricket make its Olympic debut as early as the 2020 Summer Games, the International Cricket Council (ICC) was on Friday granted full recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“The ICC is extremely proud of the recognition given to our great sport by the IOC, which we always considered to be our first step in becoming a part of the Olympic family,” the ICC chief executive, Mr Haroon Lorgat, said.
“At this stage no consideration or decision has been made regarding participation or applying for approval to participate in the Olympic Games,” he added. A decision over the inclusion of new disciplines for the 2020 Games will be taken at an IOC session in Buenos Aires in 2013, where the host country will also be picked.
One of the first backers for cricket to be included in the Olympics was Deccan Chargers skipper, Adam Gilchrist, who made a pitch in this newspaper for cricket to be a part of the Olympic programme.
Gilchrist told this newspaper from Australia on Friday, “It’s a fantastic acknowledgement for cricket from the IOC and a reinforcement of the opportunity. Cricket now has to grow the game on a truly global scale and enter new markets. T20 is a unique tool we now have,” he added.
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