“This is a historic moment because what we are marking today is not merely a cricket field. We are breaking ground on a promise. A promise that has taken 128 years to fulfill,” Gupta stated.
Gupta spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for the venue designated for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
He mentioned that cricket’s return to the Olympics after over a century signifies recognition of the sport’s worldwide appeal, especially following the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approving its inclusion in the Los Angeles Games.
“This is how long the world’s second most popular sport, passionately followed by over 2.5 billion people, has been absent from the Olympic stage.
“When the International Olympic Committee officially confirmed cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Games, it was more than just a scheduling announcement. It acknowledged that the Olympics should reflect the sports adored by billions,” he remarked.
“The International Cricket Council readily embraced that acknowledgment with our full commitment.” Commenting on the venue located in Pomona, Gupta noted that its community-focused legacy makes it ideal for cricket’s Olympic comeback.
“I can’t think of a better venue than Pomona for the realization of this promise. The best achievements in sports occur when ambition intersects with community, and Pomona embodies both.
“This site has historically served the residents of Los Angeles County as the home of the LA County Fair and as a hub for trade, culture, and celebration,” he stated.
“It feels almost poetic that a venue built around community will now host a sport that is fundamentally about community.” Gupta acknowledged the Knight Riders group’s contribution to developing the venue, underscoring its mission to promote cricket in the United States.
“I would like to recognize the pivotal role that the Los Angeles Knight Riders are playing in making this promise a reality. The Knight Riders Group, with cricket franchises in India, the Caribbean, the UAE, and the United States, has boldly declared their official home ground here, with a clear aim to establish this area as a future center for cricket in America,” he noted.
“Their ambition is to cultivate this as the nursery for the sport’s future in this country and unite the extensive cricket community nationwide,” Gupta added. The Olympic platform is set to offer unprecedented global visibility for cricket, with billions expected to tune in to the Games.
“When the LA28 Games occur in July 2028, the gaze of four billion Olympic viewers will be fixated on Los Angeles. Many of those viewers will witness cricket at Fairplex for the first time.
“This is not merely a sporting occurrence; it’s a cultural milestone, a moment for cricket to properly present itself to many regions of the world, including America,” he expressed.
Highlighting the broader implications of sports, Gupta emphasized that the Olympics symbolize more than just commercial success.
“The Olympics remind us of why sport matters, beyond commerce, viewership numbers, or franchise valuations. At its most profound level, sport is an exchange between nations, cultures, and communities. Cricket has been fostering that exchange for over a century and a half,” he remarked.
“In two years, at this very ground, it will finally take place on the world’s greatest sporting platform. Today, we are laying the foundation.
“In 2028, we will be shaping the future. And the ICC is fully committed to this vision,” Gupta concluded.
