Cricket for 2024 Olympics if Rome host

Cricket will be included in the 2024 Olympic Games if Rome wins the hosting rights, according to the president of the Italian cricket board.

Rome, Paris, Los Angeles and Budapest are bidding to host the Games and, under new regulations, the local organising committee has the opportunity to add five sports to the schedule at its own discretion.

"If Rome hosts the Olympics, cricket will be included," Simone Gambino, president of the Federazione Cricket Italiana (FCI), told ESPN.

"We have had a firm commitment from the organising committee."

The French cricket board is understood to hold similar hopes should Paris be successful.

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If Rome does host the Games, cricket could be played in Bologna, which has previously hosted World Cricket League Division Four matches.

Earlier this year, the International Olympic Council opened up the opportunity for the host city to suggest sports for admission to the program.

The 2020 Olympics, to be held in Tokyo, recently nominated karate, skateboarding, sports climbing, surfing and baseball/softball for inclusion.

Future Games would not necessarily have to include the same five sports which had been selected by the previous host city.

Cricket has not been played at the Olympics since 1900.

The announcement of the host city for 2024 is set to be made in September next year.