The LA 2028 organizers have scheduled the Olympic cricket tournament matches to begin at 09:00 AM, specifically to attract lucrative television audiences in India. This initiative marks a significant step towards the sport’s revival in the Olympics after a 128-year absence, driven largely by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) interest in tapping into the lucrative South Asian media rights and sponsorship market.
The tournament will feature six teams in a T20 format, including both men’s and women’s teams, and is set to commence on Wednesday, July 12, just two days prior to the Olympic opening ceremony. Matches will take place at a specially constructed venue at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, located approximately 30 miles from the athletes’ village in Los Angeles.
Each day will host two games at Pomona, one starting at 09:00 and the other at 18:30 Pacific Daylight Time, allowing for global viewers to tune in at 21:30 and 07:00 India Standard Time, and 17:00 and 02:30 British Summer Time, respectively. The evening matches will take advantage of floodlighting, ensuring a vibrant experience.
Kit McConnell, the IOC’s sports director instrumental in cricket’s Olympic comeback, emphasized the importance of considering “core cricket markets in the subcontinent” when planning the tournament. He expressed excitement about the potential impact of cricket at the Olympic level and the opportunities it will bring for the sport’s growth worldwide.
The integration of cricket into the Olympics signifies not only a revival of interest in the sport but also highlights the increasing globalization of the Olympic Games, making them more inclusive and diverse. This exciting development for cricket fans worldwide fosters a sense of unity and shared enthusiasm for the upcoming Games.