Latest news with #LA28Olympics
Int'l Cricket Council
5 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Smith eager for Ashes after ‘outstanding' England-India series The Ashes, 2025/26
Steve Smith is raring to go against England in the home Ashes later this year. The charismatic Australia batter, who has the third-highest Test runs against England after Sir Don Bradman and Allan Border, opened up about the five-Test series in an interview with Sky Sports. Smith conceded that he was closely following the recently concluded England-India Test series, and that England's aggressive style of play is likely to produce an exciting contest Down Under. 'I watched a lot of the series against India and it was one of the best Test series I've seen in a long time. The cricket that was played by both teams was outstanding. 'England have a good side at the moment. They are obviously playing a really aggressive brand of cricket. 'I think coming down to Australia, particularly for their batters, it's going to be a big challenge. The wickets in the last three-four years have been really tricky. 'We've obviously got a very experienced bowling lineup with guys that have played over a long period of time and been extremely successful. I'm looking forward to it. I think it's going to be a great series.' Smith also weighed in on the achievements of England's Joe Root, who recently eclipsed the likes of Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest Test run-getter of all time. 'I think not just in that series (against India) but probably the last two years, he's been incredible. His ability to make big scores - to go from 50 to 100 - which was one thing he got caught in that spot for a while. 'Now he's just making that count and making huge scores. He hasn't scored a hundred in Australia. 'I think that's been talked about quite a lot. I'm sure that's something he wants to tick off his bucket list as well.' Root has been in staggering form with the bat for England since their last tour Down Under, having recently become the first batter to have notched 6000 runs in the ICC World Test Championship. When asked if Australia will be looking to resort to competitive banter to get the better of the England lynchpin, Smith said, 'I think the way we've played out cricket in the last few years is to just let our skills do the talking. 'We've played really good cricket in the last four years in Test cricket, making two World Test Championship Finals. 'So we're doing a lot of things right. For us, it's just letting our skills take over.' Another major tournament outing on the cards for Australia's seasoned campaigner is featuring in the LA28 Olympics. With cricket making a return to the Olympic Games for the first time in 128 years, Smith expanded on what it will mean to be a part of the landmark moment. 'I've watched a lot of Olympics since I was a young kid and I've really enjoyed watching the Australian athletes go about it. 'When I heard that cricket was going to be a part of it, I was like that would be really cool to be involved in. 'I've obviously played in lots of World Cups and Ashes and Border-Gavaskar Trophies and things like that, when this popped up, it was something new. 'A new opportunity to represent your country on the world stage. I'd love to be involved in that. But still a fair bit away, so we'll see.' Cricket stars look forward to potential Olympics inclusion Cricket stars all across the globe look forward to the potential inclusion of cricket at the Olympics in 2028
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First Post
15-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Cricket schedule for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics announced: Matches to get underway on 12 July, one venue to host all fixtures
Cricket makes its return to the Olympics more than a century after making its lone appearance in the 1900 Paris Games, where two teams from Great Britain and France clashed in a one-off two-day match. read more The Indian team will be entering the LA28 Olympics as one of the favourites not just for a podium finish but for gold. Image credit: Reuters/AP Cricket will make its Olympic comeback on 12 July three years from now in Los Angeles with medal matches getting underway a little over a week later. The organisers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics unveiled the competition schedule for the 34th edition of the world's biggest multi-sporting event on Monday, in which cricket returns to the Olympic fold more than a century after its lone appearance at the Games. Only two teams – one from Great Britain and one from France – had competed in a one-off two-day match in the 1900 Paris Olympics. Cricket, however, returns to the Olympics with a vastly different look, with six teams each across the men's and women's game featuring a total of 180 players, and matches set to take place in the fast-paced T20 format. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Big news!🚨 We're celebrating being exactly three years out from the 2028 Olympic Games by sharing the OFFICIAL OLYMPIC COMPETITION SCHEDULE! From where the first medal will be awarded to action-packed days that already have us cheering, this schedule is the first step in… — LA28 (@LA28) July 14, 2025 Cricket matches to get underway two days before LA28 opening ceremony The cricketing event gets underway on 12 July, two days before the opening ceremony takes place simultaneously at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the SoFi Stadium, with medal games set to take place on 20 and 29 July respectively – the latter taking place on the penultimate day of the competition. Also Read | Cricket's return in LA28 Olympics can only be a positive thing for our game, says Ponting A temporary, purpose-built venue will be constructed at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, located 50 kilometres from the host city, for the cricket matches. A similar setup had been constructed in Nassau County near New York City for last year's T20 World Cup, where eventual champions India played a majority of their group matches including against arch-rivals Pakistan. The cricketing leg of LA28 will have double-headers for the most part, with games starting at 9 am and 6.30 pm local time (9.30 pm and 7 am Indian Standard Time). Besides the Olympics, cricket has also made its presence felt at the Commonwealth Games – in 1998 (men) and 2022 (women). The sport was also part of the Asian Games in 2010, 2014 and 2023, with India completing a golden sweep in the most recent edition.
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Exclusive: Cricket In USA Set For Big Grassroots Push Ahead Of LA Games 2028
The memories of India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in the USA and the West Indies are still fresh in the minds of fans. Many Indian and South Asian families, settled in the United States, had once-in-a-lifetime experience of witnessing some of the cricket greats in action, live. When the USA defeated Pakistan in a Group Stage match of the tournament, even the joy of local fans knew no bounds. Though USA didn't go the distance in the tournament, the team did manage to show a glimpse of the potential it holds. But, if cricket in US is to grow, the nation has some significant gaps to fill, especially at the grasroots. In a conversation with NDTV, Vinay Bhimjiani, Founder & CEO of Cricmax Connect, explained how he is working with different stakeholders in the country to help cricket fulfil its potential. 1. Let's start big picture - why do you think cricket hasn't found a grassroots foothold in the U.S. yet, despite the sport's global popularity and a growing immigrant population? Cricket hasn't quite found its footing in the U.S. because there's been no real structure to support it at the grassroots level. Unlike sports like basketball or soccer, which are woven into the school and community fabric, cricket still feels like an outsider. There aren't enough trained coaches, school-ready programs, or even accessible playing spaces. Gear can be expensive, and most schools just don't know where to start. The passion is absolutely here-especially within immigrant communities-but without an easy way for schools and neighbourhoods to adopt the sport, it stays limited to weekend leagues or private academies. That's where we come in. We're working on a model that simplifies things: trained coaches, tech tools, and programs designed specifically for schools and communities to plug into easily. With cricket showing up at the T20 World Cup and heading to the LA28 Olympics, the timing is right. But it's going to take more than buzz-it needs consistent effort, investment, and a community-first approach. 2. How is the lack of a structured system affecting homegrown talent, and how could LA28 and Major League Cricket change that? Right now, the development of homegrown talent in the U.S. is largely being carried by passionate parents and a few dedicated academies. They're doing incredible work, but they operate in silos-with no national system, inconsistent coaching standards, and high costs. This makes it hard for many kids, especially those from non-cricketing families, to stay in the game long enough to reach elite levels like MLC or dream about the Olympics. In cricketing nations like India or Australia, there's a full pipeline from school competitions to professional cricket. In the U.S., that structure simply doesn't exist yet. Talent is scattered, and access is limited. The LA28 Olympics and growing visibility through events like Major League Cricket give us a unique window to fix that. But unless we build the infrastructure now-integrating cricket into schools, parks, and communities-we risk missing the moment. 3. What does cricket need, structurally or culturally, to become part of the mainstream youth sports conversation in the U.S.? Cricket needs both structural support and a cultural shift. Structurally, schools and parks need access to trained coaches, affordable gear, and simple, ready-to-run programs. Without that, cricket remains a niche option. Culturally, cricket needs to feel inclusive, not just a South Asian sport, but something all kids can enjoy. When it shows up in schools, camps, and community centers, it becomes more familiar. That visibility matters. Right now, even though we have a national team and MLC, there's still no consistent feeder system. In countries like India, there are grassroots tournaments that guide kids toward the professional path. We're trying to create that here, so cricket can grow the same way soccer did in the U.S. a few decades ago. 4. You're working closely with PlayLA and the City of Los Angeles. Can you walk us through what this partnership involves, and why it matters in the Olympic context? With PlayLA, we're the exclusive partner bringing cricket to youth across Los Angeles, aligned with the city of LA for the Olympics. PlayLA is an initiative between LA City and Parks for the Olympics and they provide the program slots, and we take care of everything else-certified coaches, a school-ready curriculum, Hammer gear, and AI-powered tools for scheduling, registration, and performance tracking. Parents even get real-time updates, which keeps them engaged and part of their child's journey. In just 60 days, we'll reach over 10,000 students, and that number continues to grow. This partnership shows how cricket can be integrated into schools and parks without burdening administrators, and how 5. Through CricMax what specific gaps are you addressing, and what's the long-term vision? As I've mentioned earlier, the U.S. lacks a structured, scalable grassroots cricket system. Talent exists, but it's spread thin across private academies and informal setups. There's no school-level pipeline feeding into the national setup. Cricmax Connect is designed to change that. We simplify cricket adoption for schools and communities by offering certified coaches, standardised programs, Hammer gear, and AI-powered tools for performance tracking and logistics. It's a full system built to make saying "yes" to cricket easy. Through PlayLA, we've proven this works-we'll reach 10,000+ students in under two months. Our long-term vision is to reach 1.8 million students across 190 counties by 2030, produce many national-level players, and make cricket a legitimate path to scholarships and college opportunities. This is about more than the Olympics-it's about setting up a system that will carry the sport forward for generations. 6. For South Asian families in the U.S., cricket is often part of their heritage. What role can it play in shaping identity and belonging for their children? Cricket can be a powerful cultural bridge. For many South Asian parents, it's tied to childhood memories and a strong sense of identity. For kids growing up in the U.S., immersed in a very different sports culture, cricket can become a way to connect with that heritage on their own terms. We've seen it firsthand-when kids play cricket here, it often creates a deeper bond with their parents. It opens up conversations, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging that goes beyond the sport itself. Our AI tools even send progress updates via WhatsApp, so even if parents can't always be present, they still feel part of the journey. That involvement turns cricket into more than a weekend activity-it becomes a family experience rooted in pride, identity, and opportunity.
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Honda named official automotive partner for LA28 Olympics and Team USA
Honda named official automotive partner for LA28 Olympics and Team USA Show Caption Hide Caption Olympic flag returns to Los Angeles ahead of LA28 Games Olympic flag arrives in Los Angeles, host city for 2028 Games Honda 7267.T was named as the automotive partner of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Team USA on Monday in the latest domestic sponsorship deal for the sporting extravaganza. The Japanese automaker, which established its first U.S. operations in Los Angeles in June 1959, will provide a vehicle fleet for the LA Games and also serve as the partner for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina. LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman said Honda was a natural fit given the company's deep roots in the Los Angeles region. "They will show up to support athletes in their journeys to train for and compete in the Olympics," Wasserman said. "And they will use us as an opportunity to showcase the best of their vehicles and their technology." With the deal, the LA Games has now eclipsed $1.5 billion in sponsorship revenue amid a flurry of dealmaking in the first half of the year. Officials at LA28, the private, non-profit company organizing the Games, told Reuters they were confident they will reach or exceed their overall target of $2.5 billion in sponsorship revenue by the time the Olympic flame reaches Southern California. In case you missed it: Looking for a car that's truly 'made in America'? Good luck finding one. "Our hope is that we would get between $1.8 billion and $2 billion this year and I'm optimistic that we'll hit those numbers," said John Slusher, CEO of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties. "Anything can happen, but sitting here today, I feel very optimistic that we'll reach or exceed our $2.5 billion sponsorship number by the time we hit the Games." The Paris Games last year had domestic sponsorship revenues of over $1.2 billion while the Tokyo 2020 Games, hosted in 2021 due to the pandemic, broke all records for domestic sponsorship deals with more than $3 billion of revenues. Paris tailwinds LA28 has announced half a dozen deals so far this year following the Paris Games, which were widely viewed as a success by athletes, fans, broadcasters and sponsors. Last month, LA28 named Archer Aviation ACHR.N as its air-taxi provider and appointed data cloud analytics company Snowflake SNOW.N as its official data collaboration provider. Slusher said as many as nine more sponsorship deals could be announced before year's end. "It was going pretty slow last year but coming out of the Paris Games and starting in November and December, things really started cranking at an incredibly high rate," he said. "NBC did such an amazing job of promoting and showing off the Paris Games here in the U.S. and Team USA did such a great job performing at a high level. It gave us a huge tailwind." LA28's roughly $7 billion budget will be paid for with money from the International Olympic Committee and IOC sponsors as well as domestic partnerships like the one with Honda, ticket sales, licensing, merchandise sales and other revenues. That money will cover a wide variety of expenses related to setting up and staging the Games including renting venues, Games operations and the opening and closing ceremonies. Taxpayer concerns The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics turned a profit and became a model for future Games but other host cities, including Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016, blew well past their budgets. The city of Los Angeles is currently grappling with a potential budget shortfall for this fiscal year and beginning the difficult and costly process of rebuilding from January's devastating wildfires. LA and California taxpayers could be on the hook for a portion of the Games budget if there are large cost overruns but Slusher, formerly a long-time Nike executive, said he was focused on making sure that does not happen. "It was stressed before I started the job that we want to have an amazing Games, turn a profit, and obviously under no circumstances are we going to be in a situation where the taxpayers foot the bill," he said. "That was made clear to me before I signed on and every day I wake up making sure I'm focused on that. That being said, I feel very optimistic about hitting our goals if not exceeding them from a revenue standpoint. "We'll fulfill Casey's commitment of having an amazing games and doing so in a way that leaves money for the city of Los Angeles as opposed to leaving a burden on the taxpayers." The Games will take place from July 14-30, 2028, and the Paralympic Games from August 15-27, 2028. Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Ken Ferris
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma City leaders approve joint resolution for 2028 Olympics
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – On Tuesday, city leaders approved a joint resolution that outlines Oklahoma City's commitment to make sure it's ready to stage the 2028 Olympic canoe slalom and softball competitions. Advertisement 'This sets the tone for the future and gives our partners, city staff, everybody, a sense of comfort and a sense of direction as we move into the next exciting three years,' said Mayor David Holt. LOCAL NEWS: Oklahoma chefs, restaurant named James Beard Award finalists The most notable part of the measure approved by the City and Oklahoma City Public Property Authority, is a $34.5 million financial guarantee that OKC will follow through with hosting the events. 'The only way that [money] would go to L.A. is if we said, 'Oh, my goodness, we can't host the events that we're saying we're going to host,'' said Councilman Todd Stone, Ward 4. Advertisement The Mayor described it as a 'bit of an insurance policy.' 'That is not a check we ever expect to write, but it is one, it is an amount of money that we will need to set aside to back up our word,' said Holt. LOCAL NEWS: Second Ronald McDonald House coming to NW OKC in 2026 The resolution also included a commitment from Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Public Property Authority that they will provide the necessary venues, like RIVERSPORT and Devon Park. They're also promising to keep up maintenance, make improvements and provide essential services like security, public safety, and transportation. Advertisement 'Some of the things that are included in this joint resolution with PPA making these commitments are pretty basic,' said Holt. 'But we've never made that statement here officially from this horseshoe.' The LA28 Olympics kick off July 14 and run through the 30. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Oklahoma City.
