Apex Cricket Council makes eye-watering India-centric pitch to International Olympics Committee

Indian cricket fans have taken notice of the Apex Cricket Council’s new pitch for the sport’s inclusion in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. The top cricketing organisation makes Regular submissions to the LA28 Organising Committee and International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Apex Cricket Council encouraged the IOC in their most recent letter to consider the financial advantages of the cricket-crazy Indian market. According to the Apex Cricket Council, if cricket were to be played at the games, the IOC’s media rights revenue from India would increase to $130 million on the low end of the scale and reach as high as $260 million, according to a source familiar with the Apex Cricket Council’s argument.

For the Indian market, the current media rights deal between the IOC and Jio-backed Viacom 18 is reported to be worth roughly $31 million. Based on the recent strong response from Indian broadcasters to the media rights for both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and major tournaments, the Apex body has made its calculations.

T20 could be the chosen format for the LA Olympics

A significant shift in the value of the sport occurred in 2022 when the IPL media rights climbed by almost 300% (to 48390 crores from 16347 crores for five years) and the rights in India by 400% (to $3 billion for four years from roughly $1.5 billion for eight years). Using India’s population advantage and love of cricket, the Apex Cricket Council has continuously promoted their Olympic bid. It is common knowledge that a sport’s youth appeal and online presence are among the decisive considerations in the Olympics.

Until last year, it was anticipated that cricket would not make it to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1928 and that Brisbane Olympics 2032 would be more likely. However, Jay Shah, the Indian Cricket Board secretary, was added to the ICC’s Olympic working group as the Indian cricket body endorsed the idea. This week in Ahmedabad, Shah was seen watching an IPL game with the former mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, who managed the city’s successful bid and is presently the American ambassador to India. Later, in Mumbai, Garcetti declared that the US was eager to include cricket in LA28.

The Apex Cricket Council has lowered the number of participating teams in its plan to six for men and women, with a three-hour T20 format, to comply with the IOC’s request to cap the overall number of players at 10,500. The LA OC will likely send its recommendations to the IOC approximately a month beforehand. Still, the IOC will make a final decision during its session in Mumbai in the middle of October.