In a rather bizarre statement, IOC Chief Jacques Rogge has expressed his desire to make cricket an Olympic sport. We say bizarre for two reasons. One, the statement comes from the head of the global Olympic movement and two; it is for a sporting discipline that has number of competitive countries counting up in single digits
“We would welcome an application. It’s an important, popular sport and very powerful on television. It’s a sport with a great tradition where mostly you have a respect of the ethics” – Jacques Rogge, International Olympic Committee President on proposal to push for cricket in Olympics.
This was one statement that came as a bolt from the blue one would have to say. While most sports bodies around the world are scrambling to do anything to press the case for inclusion into the Olympics, the ICC hardly even nurtures any ambition to make efforts in this regard.
The statement of Rogge could even end up ruffling the feathers of leaders of many other sports, which still do not figure in the prestigious Olympic Games. Before getting into what Mr.Rogge said and what it could mean for the game of cricket, we really need to look at whether cricket even deserves talk about Olympics leave alone inclusion.
Is it cricket or is it India?
Rogge’s statement in many ways can actually be his personal opinion, which might find it hard to get endorsement from others within the IOC. The same is evident in what he was quoted as saying in one of the leading dailies in England. “I love the game. I have watched Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Shane Warne, Ian Botham. It’s tactically very interesting, a game of patience, a game of great skills and the only sport where, after five days, you can have a draw!” Rogge had said
–Agencies