Jay Shah Meets IOC President To Advance Key Cricket Initiatives For LA Olympics 2028

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ICC Chair Jay Shah recently met with IOC President Thomas Bach and other senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials during his visit to the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Shah also participated in the LA 2028 International Federations seminar, accompanied by ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice, as they worked towards strengthening ties between the ICC and IOC in preparation for cricket's inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

The meeting marked the first formal interaction between Shah and Bach, where they discussed opportunities to integrate cricket with the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. The discussions highlighted the potential for cricket to connect with a broader audience while contributing to the Olympic movement's ideals.

This development comes at an exciting juncture for cricket, with significant potential to engage both established and new fans in the lead-up to LA 2028. These efforts aim to set the foundation for future collaborations that benefit players, supporters, and the global sports community.

Cricket is set to make its Olympic comeback at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles after a gap of 128 years, having last been played in the 1900 Paris Olympics. This historic decision marks a significant milestone for the sport as it steps onto one of the largest global stages.

Since becoming ICC Chairman, Jay Shah has been a vocal advocate for cricket's inclusion in the Olympics. He expressed his excitement about this development, emphasizing the tremendous opportunity it presents to expand cricket's global reach and connect with diverse audiences.

Commenting on the milestone meeting, ICC Chair Jay Shah said: "We were delighted to meet with Thomas Bach and IOC officials. It was a productive meeting and an important milestone on the road to LA 2028. The inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games represents a watershed moment for our sport and a real opportunity for transformative growth for 2028 and beyond.

"We discussed a range of critical issues and continued to build relationships with our friends across the Olympic movement. We look forward to the next three and a half years working in collaboration with the IOC and LA 2028'', he further added.