New Delhi, Feb. 12: In a move that could see cricket make its Olympic debut as early as the 2020 Summer Games, the International Cricket Council was on Friday granted full recognition by the International Olympic Council.
"The ICC is extremely proud of the recognition given to our great sport by the IOC, which we always considered to be our first step in becoming a part of the Olympic family," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.
"At this stage no consideration or decision has been made regarding participation or applying for approval to participate in the Olympic Games," he added.
Australian legend and Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist, who had mooted the idea of cricket at the Olympics through his article in this newspaper in 2008, was excited. "It’s a fantastic acknowledgement for cricket from the IOC and a reinforcement of the opportunity," he said. "Cricket now has to grow the game on a truly global scale and enter new markets. T20 is a unique tool we now have," he added.
The IOC session in Vancouver, Canada, appro-ved its executive board’s decision to convert the "provisional" recognition of the ICC to "full recognition".esides the ICC, the IOC also granted recognition to the federations of sport climbing and power boating. With the IOC’s decision, cricket — most likely the Twenty20 version — can now bid to join the 2020 Olympic Games though the ICC has not made it clear which format it will push for.
A decision over the inclusion of new disciplines for the 2020 Games will be taken at an IOC session in Buenos Aires in 2013, where the host country will also be picked. Golf and rugby were included for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after an IOC vote last year.
Age Correspondent