Why Is Cricket Not In Olympics?

Poster of the only Olympic cricket match (X.com)Poster of the only Olympic cricket match (X.com)

As the 2024 Paris Olympics drew to a close, a diverse array of sports took centre stage at the prestigious event. Yet, one sport that had once been a part of the Olympics, cricket, was notably absent from the lineup.

Cricket, a sport that was once part of the 1900 Paris Olympics, saw Great Britain clinching the Gold Medal and France securing the Silver Medal. 

After this historic event, cricket was not included in the games. But, the anticipation is high as the sport is set to make a grand return in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

However, this makes us wonder: 

Why was Cricket not a part of the Olympic Games for so long?

The 1900 Olympics saw the participation of just two teams, i.e. Great Britain and hosts France. Interestingly, the French team consisted of mixed players who were primarily English expatriates. 

Most players were club cricketers — only the British side had any first-class cricket experience; however this team was not nationally selected. Although this game was carried on, and eventually Great Britain won, it was understood that due to a lack of participation from other nations and insufficient entries, it was decided that cricket would no longer be a part of the Olympic games

Nevertheless, the 2028 Olympic organising committee announced that cricket was on the list of sports that would be a part of the event in Los Angeles.