The Facts
On Friday, the International Olympic Committee's executive board approved the inclusion of T20 cricket — for both men and women — at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Terming the announcement as a "win-win," the IOC's president, Thomas Bach, said that "Olympic Games will give cricket a global stage" and allow the Olympic movement to engage with a popular athlete community.
The Spin
Narrative A
The IOC's decision to include cricket is all about money as India is an unquestioned economic driving force of the sport, thanks to lucrative broadcasting deals in a nation where the game is almost a religion.
Narrative B
The Olympics is one of the most watched sporting events globally — not just in India — which is why cricket's inclusion would expose the sport to a much wider audience, especially in countries where it's not as popular.
Narrative C
Despite being the world's most watched sport, soccer didn't entirely take off in the Olympics, attract the best players, or ring cash registers for the IOC. The committee must learn from its previous disastrous decisions and stop playing with the Games' spirit.
