Cricket Wins Provisional Olympic Status

Cricket has moved a step closer to winning Olympic status after the International Olympic Committee provisionally recognised the sport.

The IOC announcement represented the first time cricket has been brought back into the Olympic movement since the Paris Games of 1900. However, the earliest cricket could feature would be in 2020.

The provisional status is for an initial two-year period, after which sports bodies can seek full recognition and apply for inclusion in the Olympics.

If given full status in two years time, cricket would then be able to be considered for a place at the Games when the IOC review the programme for 2020 after the 2012 Olympics in London.

‘Maybe one day it will be right for cricket to return to the Olympic programme,’ said International Cricket Council president Ray Mali.

‘This is great news for cricket, the Olympic movement is instantly recognisable around the world and for cricket to be a part of that again has to be a good thing.

‘Our goal has been to become an international federation that is recognised by the IOC and we are pleased to have achieved this target.’