The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is keen to have cricket at the 2026 Asian Games which will be held in Japan. They are facing concerns with a lack of venues, but are exploring the idea of converting a baseball stadium in Nagoya to host cricket matches.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is still working on the sports programme. It will be finalised at an OCA General Assembly in April. They are looking to have cricket at the 2026 Games as well. However, the lack of cricket facilities in Japan remains an issue. Japan Cricket Association has offered an international stadium in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo. But, the OCA is looking for a facility in or around Nayoga, where the Games will be played.
The OCA acting president Randhir Singh said to Reuters, “We are still working on the sports programme for the 2026 Games but yes, we would want cricket to be part of it.”
OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari visited Japan last month with an OCA coordination committee to oversee preparations. He revealed that the Tochigi stadium, offered by the Japan Cricket Association is around a three-and-half-hour drive from Nagoya.
“We are working with the Asian Cricket Council on this,” Tiwari said.
Cricket to be played in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Asian Games and other multi-sport events will help to boost the game of cricket and expand its presence across the world. The sport will also be returning to the Olympics as well in Los Angeles in 2028 after a long gap of 128 years. The decision to include the sport in its T20 form was taken in October last year by the Olympic Committee. It also featured in the Hangzhou Games in China last year. Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams won the Gold medal in the event.
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