Nita Ambani, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and founder-chairperson of Reliance Foundation, expressed her excitement over the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking the sport’s return to the global multi-sport event after 128 years.
Reflecting on the journey to make this happen, Nita Ambani shared how she advocated for cricket’s inclusion during an IOC session last year. She pointed to India’s deep passion for sports, especially cricket, and its immense viewership during the Tokyo Olympics as key factors in making the case. “India is a sport-loving nation. The Olympic channel saw maximum viewership from India during the Tokyo Olympics. So, imagine the impact if we add cricket to the mix,” she explained. She recalled convincing the committee that cricket’s inclusion would be a “win-win” situation, supported by nearly two billion people, marking a significant milestone for the sport.
Cricket will officially be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games alongside sports like baseball/softball, lacrosse, squash, and flag football. This decision was confirmed during the ongoing 141st IOC session in Mumbai. Cricket last appeared in the Olympics in 1900 at the Paris Games, where Great Britain triumphed over France in the final. While cricket has been played in other international events such as the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, its Olympic return is a historic event.
Nita Ambani also spoke passionately about India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics, emphasizing the nation’s growing stature. “India is poised to become the third-largest economy in the world, and it’s unusual that we are the only major economy that hasn’t hosted the Olympics yet. It would be a great honor for us to do so,” she said. She outlined India’s vision to host the “greenest” and most sustainable Olympics, with plans to refurbish and reuse existing infrastructure to minimize environmental impact. “If we secure the 2036 bid, I assure you, it will be the greenest Olympics ever,” she added.
Nita Ambani’s remarks were made during her keynote address at the Harvard India Conference on Indian Business, Policy, and Culture, where she also touched on her efforts to bring India’s culture to the world through initiatives like the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.