It will be part of a two-week extravaganza during the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, which will see the sport return to the stage after 128 years.
The only time cricket was featured in the Olympic Games was in 1900, with two teams: Great Britain and France, with the former winning the gold medal.
“This can only be a positive thing for our sport. I’ve sat on a number of committees over the last 15 or 20 years and it’s always been at the top of almost every agenda – how can we get sport back into the Olympic Games? And finally, it’s there,” Ponting said during the ICC Review.
“It’s only four years away. I think it also gives cricket a chance to break into the grassroots level in the US.”
“But the important thing about the Olympic Games is not the host country, but the public they are aimed at.” It was last October that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially confirmed the presence of this sport at the Games during the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai.
Ponting, meanwhile, noted that the Olympic Games are watched by billions of people around the world and are the best opportunity for sport to attract a new audience and mark its authority on the world stage.
“The fact that the Olympic Games are watched by so many people from all over the world opens the door to a completely different audience, which seems to grow by the day. This can only be a really positive thing for sport,” he added.
However, Ponting felt that facilities and infrastructure, along with qualification, would be something that needed to be looked after, given that pitches in New York, Dallas and Florida during the T20 World Cup in June were found to be below par.
“Facilities and infrastructure and things like that are going to be key, as is the number of teams they decide on. I think they are only talking about six or seven teams,” he continued.
“So, qualification will be a big factor – how you actually qualify to get into the Olympics.
“I’ve got a lot of things on my mind. I’m really excited about the direction the game is going and the growth of the different markets we’re seeing emerging.” Ponting is currently not in a coaching role, having resigned from his position at Indian Premier League side Delhi Capitals.
He did, however, express excitement at the prospect of mentoring his national team during the Los Angeles Games in four years’ time, although he believes there will be a long list of prospects for that.
“I think it would be a really nice job to be a mentor for a cricket team at the Olympics and hang out there,” Ponting speculated.
“I was lucky enough to play in the Commonwealth Games (1998), and just being surrounded by athletes in villages and stuff was quite a surreal environment for a cricketer.
“So, look, I wouldn’t say ‘no’, but I think there will be a lot of people who will put their hand up to try and be a mentor or coach for an Australian team at the Olympics.
“It would be special to be a part of this, so who knows? We’ll keep our fingers crossed and see what happens,” he concluded.
.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.