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Tuesday, 15 October, 2024

Organisers keen on cricket in 2026 Asian Games despite venue headache

Cricket administrators perceive multi-sport events like the Asian Games as an opportunity to boost the game, which will return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 after a 128-year gap
Express Desk
  29 Feb 2024, 02:16
Asian Games - Hangzhou 2022 - Closing Ceremony - Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Hangzhou, China - October 8, 2023 A general view of the venue during the closing ceremony

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is eager to have cricket at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and is exploring the idea of converting a baseball stadium in Nagoya for this purpose. 

Cricket administrators perceive multi-sport events like the Asian Games as an opportunity to boost the game, which will return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 after a 128-year gap. 

Cricket featured in the Hangzhou Games in China last year but wasn't part of the 2018 Games in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia. 

"We are still working on the sports programme for the 2026 Games but yes, we would want cricket to be part of it," OCA acting president Randhir Singh told Reuters. 

The lack of cricket facilities in Japan, however, remains an issue.

There is an international cricket stadium in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, but the OCA prefers a facility in or around Nagoya, the capital of Aichi prefecture where the Games will be held. 

The Tochigi stadium would be a three-and-a-half hour drive from Nagoya, said OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari, who visited Japan last month with an OCA coordination committee to oversee preparations. 

"We are working with the Asian Cricket Council on this," Tiwari said. 

The programme for the 2026 Games will be finalised at an OCA General Assembly in April.

"It will be great to have cricket in the 2026 Games, and we at JCA will provide all kind of support," Japan Cricket Association chief executive Naoki Alex Miyaji told Reuters. 

"It would leave a fantastic legacy, and go a long way in promoting the game in the country."

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Organisers keen on cricket in 2026 Asian Games despite venue headache

Cricket administrators perceive multi-sport events like the Asian Games as an opportunity to boost the game, which will return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 after a 128-year gap
Express Desk
  29 Feb 2024, 02:16
Asian Games - Hangzhou 2022 - Closing Ceremony - Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Hangzhou, China - October 8, 2023 A general view of the venue during the closing ceremony

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is eager to have cricket at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and is exploring the idea of converting a baseball stadium in Nagoya for this purpose. 

Cricket administrators perceive multi-sport events like the Asian Games as an opportunity to boost the game, which will return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 after a 128-year gap. 

Cricket featured in the Hangzhou Games in China last year but wasn't part of the 2018 Games in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia. 

"We are still working on the sports programme for the 2026 Games but yes, we would want cricket to be part of it," OCA acting president Randhir Singh told Reuters. 

The lack of cricket facilities in Japan, however, remains an issue.

There is an international cricket stadium in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, but the OCA prefers a facility in or around Nagoya, the capital of Aichi prefecture where the Games will be held. 

The Tochigi stadium would be a three-and-a-half hour drive from Nagoya, said OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari, who visited Japan last month with an OCA coordination committee to oversee preparations. 

"We are working with the Asian Cricket Council on this," Tiwari said. 

The programme for the 2026 Games will be finalised at an OCA General Assembly in April.

"It will be great to have cricket in the 2026 Games, and we at JCA will provide all kind of support," Japan Cricket Association chief executive Naoki Alex Miyaji told Reuters. 

"It would leave a fantastic legacy, and go a long way in promoting the game in the country."

Comments

Cameron Green to Miss India Test Series Due to Back Surgery
Hridoy, Emon in Bangladesh A squad for Emerging Asia Cup
Tigers taste ignominious defeat on Mahmudullah's last T20
Inter-Base hockey competition of BAF ends
Reddy stars as India crush Bangladesh to clinch T20 series