Cricket Set to Make a Historic Return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature cricket for the first time since 1900, with matches starting on July 12. Six teams will compete in T20 format at a newly built Fairgrounds Stadium. This historic event highlights cricket's growing popularity, especially following women's cricket's debut in the Commonwealth Games. Mayor Karen Bass emphasizes the legacy of the Games, with over a million enrollments in local sports programs. The tournament promises to be a significant milestone for the sport, showcasing its evolution on a global stage.
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Cricket Set to Make a Historic Return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Olympic Cricket Tournament Details

The cricket competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is set to commence on July 12, with the medal matches taking place on July 20 and 29. The games will be held at a specially constructed Fairgrounds Stadium located in Pomona, approximately 50 kilometers from Los Angeles, as reported by a sports news outlet.


For the first time since 1900, both men's and women's cricket teams will compete in the Olympics, featuring six teams and a total of 180 players participating in T20 format. Each team is allowed to select a squad of 15 players for the tournament.


Most of the matches will be organized as double-headers, with no games scheduled for July 14 and 21. Matches will begin at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM local time, a schedule that will also apply to the medal matches.


The Fairgrounds Stadium, also known as Fairplex, spans nearly 500 acres and has been the venue for the LA County Fair since 1922. It regularly hosts concerts, trade shows, sports events, and cultural activities.


Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed excitement about the upcoming Games, stating, “When the world comes here for these Games, we will highlight every neighborhood as we host a Games for all and work to ensure it leaves a monumental legacy.”


She further noted, “We are already delivering that legacy as we announce that there have been more than one million enrollments in PlayLA. I want to thank LA28 and the International Olympic Committee for making these programs possible and for their continued work to host the greatest Games yet.”


This marks only the second time cricket will feature in the Olympics since its debut in 1900, when Great Britain and France competed in a two-day match, with Great Britain taking home the gold medal.


The inclusion of cricket in the Olympics highlights its increasing popularity, especially with women's cricket making its Commonwealth Games debut in 2022 in Birmingham. Both men's and women's cricket have been part of the Asian Games since 2010, with events held in 2014 and 2023.


Recently, the USA co-hosted the ICC T20 World Cup alongside the West Indies, with matches taking place in Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York. Notably, the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York hosted a significant match between India and Pakistan, two fierce rivals in the sport.


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