After 128 Years, Cricket Returns to Olympics: Pomona Fairplex Officially Named Cricket Venue for LA 2028

Cricket's Olympic Return at LA 2028, to be played in Ponoma

The venue for cricket's return to the Olympics is now confirmed. The LA28 Organising Committee has officially announced that the city of Pomona, located in Southern California, will host the cricket events during the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

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Venue: Pomona Fairplex

The Fairplex has been chosen as the specific location, a sprawling 500-acre venue in Pomona, situated approximately 50 kilometers east of central Los Angeles. Known for hosting the Los Angeles County Fair since 1922, the Fairplex will see a temporary, purpose-built cricket facility constructed specifically for the Games. This marks a significant step in preparations for cricket's inclusion in the Olympics, scheduled to run from July 14 to 30, 2028.

A Historic Comeback via T20

Cricket's appearance at LA28 will end a 128-year Olympic absence; with its only previous inclusion being a single match between Great Britain and France in Paris back in 1900. The return will feature the fast-paced Twenty20 (T20) format, a version of the game credited with significantly boosting cricket's global popularity.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) welcomed the venue confirmation. ICC Chairman Jay Shah highlighted the format's appeal, stating, "Featuring it at the Olympics in the fast-paced, exciting T20 format presents a fantastic opportunity to expand its traditional boundaries and attract new audiences." He described the venue confirmation as a 'significant step' towards bringing cricket back to the Olympics.

The Format

The LA28 Olympics will feature both men's and women's T20 cricket competitions. Six teams will compete in each tournament, with each team comprising 15 players, fitting within the allocated total athlete quota of 90 for the sport. The specific qualification pathways for these six teams are yet to be finalized by the ICC and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Cricket was officially added to the LA28 programme during the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai in October 2023, joining other newly included sports like baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. The T20 format's suitability for multi-sport events has already been demonstrated through its inclusion in recent editions of the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games.

Confirming Pomona as the venue firms up plans for cricket's eagerly awaited Olympic return. It sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting debut for T20 cricket on the world's biggest sporting platform, hoping to excite current fans while attracting new ones.