International Cricket Council (ICC) President Jay Shah extended his congratulations to Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on Thursday, March 20. Coventry’s election is historic as she becomes the first woman to hold this prestigious position.
Shah expressed his excitement about collaborating with Coventry to ensure cricket’s participation in the upcoming Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. This will mark the sport’s return to the Olympics after 128 years, with cricket being played in the T20 format during the event. The decision for cricket’s Olympic comeback follows its inclusion in recent major events, such as the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and the Asian Games in 2023.
In his social media post, Shah congratulated Coventry, saying, “Congratulations and best wishes to newly-elected IOC President @OfficialKirstyCoventry, an honour thoroughly deserved. I’m humbled to have been present for this moment in Greece after hosting you at the ICC #ChampionsTrophy. I look forward to working with you and your team on cricket’s involvement in the @LA28Games and beyond.”
Kirsty Coventry became the tenth IOC President and is not only the first woman to achieve this milestone but also the first African to hold the role in the organization’s history. She was elected during the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece.
Coventry was also welcomed to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, where she watched the semi-final match between India and Australia on March 4. Cricket’s return to the Olympics is viewed as a significant opportunity to enhance the sport’s global reach. Additionally, the T20 World Cup set to take place in 2024 in the USA is another step forward for promoting cricket internationally. Along with cricket, other sports such as baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash will also feature in the LA 2028 Games.
