The sport of cricket is making a play for inclusion at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The possibility of Cricket, already an Olympic recognized sport, to be staged at a future Games was discussed at the International Cricket Council Conference in Edinburgh this week.
Simone Gambino, president of the Federazione Cricket Italiana (FCI) told reporters, “we have had a firm commitment from the [Rome 2024 Olympic bid] committee”.
A Rome 2024 spokesperson said, however, that the final decision will be up to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). New regulations set forth in the Olympic bidding process allows host cities to propose locally popular Olympic recognized sports to be included at a single edition of the Games. The IOC Executive Board needs to approve the sports and they must win a majority of the full membership vote before they can be included.
The IOC is set to vote next month on whether five Tokyo proposed sports including baseball/softball, climbing, surfing, skateboarding and karate will be part of the 2020 Olympic Games.
The FCI is proposing that cricket in Italy for the 2024 Games would be held in Bologna where the World Cricket League Division Four matches were held in 2010. France Cricket is reportedly trying to win a similar commitment with the Paris 2024 bid committee.
Rome and Paris are battling Los Angeles and Budapest to host the 2024 Olympic Games. The IOC will elect a winner in September 2017.
