Development of the women's game and other reasons why cricket in the Olympic Games is a good idea

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  • Cricket was last played in the Olympics in the 1900 Paris Games and it could be set to make a return in the 2024 Olympics in the same city if all goes to plan.

    That is, if the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) gives the green light for India’s participation.

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been clamouring for cricket’s inclusion in the Games for some time now and it seems that all that stands in the way of the event becoming a reality is for the BCCI to give its stamp of approval.

    While the Indian cricket governing body remains non committal on the issue as it weighs up its own pros and cons, we take a look at the reasons why cricket should be included in the Olympics.

    Expanding the reach of cricket to China and co

    Having the sport included in the summer games would give cricket a much needed fillip to expand the sport in previously uncharted territories.

    One of the major payoffs of the gambit would be the acceleration of the development of the game in China. Currently, the Chinese Cricket Association relies solely on the limited amount of funds provided by the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

    Nothing drives China more than Games gold, though, and there have been several indications that an Olympic inclusion would see millions poured into the game’s development, similar to the injection Rugby received in the country after it was declared an Olympic sport.

    Not only China, many more Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC would receive greater funding from their respective governments.

    China's cricket potential remains untapped at the moment.

    China’s cricket potential remains untapped at the moment.

    The advent of Twenty20 cricket provides cricket with the right vehicle

    While it has been over a 100 years since the last time cricket was included in the Olympics, there have been numerous attempts to re-introduce the sport to the summer extravaganza.

    However, the format of the game has remained a major sticking point for the organisers and the ICC alike. While the five-day format of the game understandably remains a no go for the Olympics, the 50 over version of the sport presents its own set of logistical problems for the organisers.

    A single seven to eight hours One Day International (ODI) would multiply the number of cricket venues needed for the summer meet which is typically concluded in the span of two to three weeks.

    With the advent of the Twenty20 format, cricket has the perfect vehicle to make the sport an Olympic success.

    A three hour match would drastically reduce the logistical requirements while also providing newer audiences with a much more tighter and entertaining package.

    The development of Women’s Cricket

    The recent success of the ICC Women’s World Cup in England has highlighted the developments done to the female version of the sport in recent times.

    While Australia and England continue to lead the way in women’s cricket, India’s run to the final has provided a major boost to the sport back home.

    With the popularity of the women’s game at an all-time high, an Olympic inclusion would be the perfect opportunity to cement the new found interest in the game.

    A women’s competition running parallel to the men’s competition in an event as widely covered as the Olympics would bring much needed attention in raising the profile and awareness about the game.

    An Olympics spot could lead to newer funding from national governments and sporting bodies alike to the women who have struggled to complete financially compared to their male counterparts.

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