Cricket Australia looks for sport’s inclusion at 2032 Brisbane Olympics

Looking to expand participation and maintain the game’s position at the heart of the country’s sporting culture, Cricket Australia is aiming for the sport to be included at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Released today, Cricket Australia’s Where the Game Grows strategic plan aims to double the number of children aged five to 12 playing the game to 210,000 over the next five years, with girls making up 60,000 of that number.

Following the International Cricket Council (ICC) having last year launched a campaign for the inclusion of the sport at the Los Angeles Olympics, another of Cricket Australia’s targets is to get the sport back into the Olympics for the first time since 1900 - with the Brisbane Games targeted if the sport is not included in the 2028 Games.

Cricket has been shortlisted for possible inclusion at the 2028 Olympics along eight other sports and the ICC will make a presentation to organisers later this month.

The host city can include any sport but needs the approval of the International Olympic Committee.

Women’s Twenty20 cricket made its Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham last month with Australia beating India by nine runs in the final to claim the inaugural gold medal.

The inclusion of cricket in the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics is part of the “sustainable future” strand of the plan, which also aims to improve fan experience, expand the grassroots and continue Australia’s success on the world stage.

Advising that the sport has a target of at least three ICC tournament triumphs over the next five years for both the men’s and women’s national teams, Cricket Australia Chief Executive, Nick Hockley advised “this strategy contains both a vision and a clear plan for how we can achieve bold, transformative change while also meeting our core responsibilities.

“I would like to thank everyone across the game for their passion and commitment as we work to unite and inspire everyone to love and play cricket, and in so doing make cricket a sport for all that makes Australians proud.”

Images: Cricket at the Gabba.