7 reasons why T20s should be included in Olympics

7 reasons why T20s should be included in Olympics: From ODI world cups to the Ashes, from tri-nation series to T20 World cups, Cricket is not a sport which lacks visual space. It is omnipresent and loved by most around the globe. But what prevents Cricket, from being the part of the biggest sporting carnival, the Olympics? For much too long a degree of tradition is listed out as a potential barrier to such a move. But that argument lacks substance. How does the so-called ‘class’ of the game get affected by including it into the most watched sports event at the grandest stage of all? If anything it only enhances its reputation and lends further credentials of popularity around the world. Considering the time constraints in events of the magnitude of Olympics it is best to have the T20 format for a start. Today we list out 7 reasons why T20s should be included in Olympics: 1. 8 billion eyeballs (Photo Source: Twitter) More people watch the Olympics than any other television event, including the Football World Cup. Around 4 billion people tuned in to watch the 2012 London Olympic Games, while the 2008 Beijing Olympics drew an estimated 4.7 billion viewers. That’s around 70% of the human population. And it’s amazing how many fans cricket has. At over 2.5 billion followers, it is the second most popular sport played today. Thus, if these two audiences combine to watch a T20 game in Olympics it would be a fantastic spectacle. 2. A chance for young players Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: AFP) In a bid to shine the spotlight on the youth, certain sports have set rules which prevent overage players from competing in them. That’s exactly what soccer did in making its Olympic competition an under-23 tournament. Cricket could also limit the Olympics to younger players, giving talented future stars the opportunity to shine on a major international stage. Diamonds develop under intense pressure; why not the next generation of top cricketers? Cricket would thus fit right into the theme of the Olympics. 3. A global Appeal (Photo Source: Getty Images) Having T20 Cricket in Olympics will appeal to a global audience, much of whom are not familiar with the intricacies of the game. It would help them to get an idea and overview of basic cricket rules. This is where T20 can particularly help. It does not go on for long and thus allows for the fans to stay back to watch the full game. Moreover, there is plenty of excitement every over meaning there is nothing like a dull moment. We all agree that Olympic audiences are pretty varied and thus it would enhance the reach of the game world over and also inspire kids watching to take up Cricket later on as their career options. 4. Market opportunities (© Getty Images) T20 Cricket is popular and played in numerous countries around the world now it has a legitimate case to have a presence in the Olympics like football, basketball, tennis, etc. More than many other sports, cricket costs a lot of money to play. Teams need to register in a competition, clubs need fields and training facilities, and players need all the equipment and clothing. For national cricket bodies such as India’s BCCI, helping fund all levels of cricket would be a massive financial undertaking and if it were prioritised into developing cricket in weaker nations, it could go a long way. That would open up different markets for cricket, considering the Olympics is the pinnacle of a global sport. It would also help increase corporate sponsorship to the sport. 5. Development of Cricket in smaller countries Nepal Cricket.. (Photo Source: Cricket Association Of Nepal- CAN Facebook Handle) Getting T20 cricket into the Olympics, if managed correctly, is critical for the sport’s development. It would unlock government funding that is usually only directed towards Olympic sports in the nations where Cricket is not so big. Another benefit of having T20s on the Olympic set-up is that the smaller countries have an opportunity to compete in that format, unlike the Tests or the ODIs. Countries such as the United States, Russia and China, which are major sporting nations but cricketing minnows, might begin to become bigger forces in the game. Just look what happened to Russian tennis after the sport’s return to the Olympics in Seoul in 1988. 6. Infrastructure benefits (© Getty Images) The host country would witness improvement in infrastructure as has happened in China, where the Asian Games were held in 2010 and the Guanggong International Cricket Stadium in Guangzhou was built. More cricket stadiums would translate into the government putting more emphasis on the sport and incentivizing the players in every possible way. These grounds can later be used to play other sports also. For example, the Hamilton in New Zealand hosts Rugby and Cricket games on the same turf. 7. A bigger stage for women’s cricket (© Getty Images) T20 Cricket has the largest women fan following in the world but still remains a sport dominated by men, with ladies relegated to sub-standard status in most countries. Women’s international cricket tournaments have benefited from increased viewership by running alongside those of their male counterparts but attention on the men’s game still hinder’s the growth of women’s cricket. But we all know there’s no bigger stage than the Olympics. And the potential benefits for Women’s cricket could be huge if they participate in such an event. It would help in gathering more viewership, and a much-needed monetary injection to their game.