The Commonwealth Games have played a pivotal role in fostering the sport of cricket. The 11th Commonwealth Ministers of Sports Meeting has commenced in Paris, parallel to the 2024 Paris Olympic games. The conference has attracted sports ministers from 56 member nations of the Commonwealth, along with diplomats, business leaders, and partner organizations.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, expressed her enthusiasm for the event, emphasizing the role of sports in fostering peace, development, and economic progress.
The Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport CABOS, an independent body that provides sport-related advice to the Commonwealth, is one of the key partners of the event. The organization is led by two-time Cricket World Cup Winner Deryck Lance Murray. Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Physical Activity of Canada, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to exchange ideas and learnings with other nations.
The Future of Cricket in the Commonwealth Games
The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will feature cricket as a sport, marking a significant milestone for the game. The future of the Commonwealth Games after 2026 remains uncertain, with the venue yet to be determined. However, cricket will be one of the sports contested at the games.
The Commonwealth of Nations will have a new Secretary-General by then, with Mamadou Tangara of Gambia being a leading candidate for the position.
Picture credit: CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
