Beijing Olympics 2008

Cricket has taken the first step on the long road to inclusion in the Olympic program by winning provisional recognition status.
Cricket and sport climbing were awarded the status for their work with youths, the International Olympic Committee said on Monday. The earliest cricket could be seen at the Games is 2020.
As it will not have spent the mandatory two-year provisional status by the time the 2008 Beijing Olympics are over, its case will be reviewed following the 2012 London Games.
The Olympic program is determined seven years ahead of every Games. “Both (sports) showed a lot of activity and work with youth,” IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told reporters after the first day of an executive board meeting. Other fully recognized sports include rugby, golf, squash, bridge and tug-of-war. Provisionally recognized sports include sumo wrestling.
“This is great news for cricket,” International Cricket Council president Ray Mali said in a statement. “The decision is expected to raise cricket’s profile in regions where it is still a developing sport.” “Our goal has been to become an international federation that is recognized by the IOC and we are pleased to have achieved this target,” Mali said.
“We want to play an active role in the Olympic movement and we will be looking at ways in which we can work with the IOC for the benefit of cricket, sport and society in general.”
Meanwhile, the four host countries of the 2011 cricket World Cup will ask the ICC if they can hold the tournament over a shorter period of time.

 from: xinhuanet.com