'Cricket can unite, inspire and empower at an unparalleled scale': Jay Shah backs IOC initiative on Olympic Day

International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah marked International Olympic Day by extending support to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) global initiative aimed at promoting health, well-being, and community engagement through sport.Highlighting the unifying power of sport, Shah underlined cricket’s global reach and its ability to bring people together across borders.

“On the International Olympic Day, we are fully behind the initiative by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to harness the power of sport to promote health, well-being, and community engagement. With more than 2 billion fans around the world, Cricket has the ability to unite, inspire and empower at an unparalleled scale.

Wishing everyone a happy Olympic Day and look forward to celebrating with all of you the Olympic spirit that motivates us to move, play, and thrive,” ICC Chairman Jay Shah shared on X.

Olympic Day celebrates global sporting movement

International Olympic Day is observed every year on June 23 to commemorate the founding of the International Olympic Committee and the revival of the modern Olympic Games. First introduced in 1948, the day promotes physical fitness, inclusivity, and the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect.

The celebration has grown into a worldwide movement, with National Olympic Committees, International Federations, and organising committees hosting events to encourage participation and active lifestyles across communities.IOC president Kirsty Coventry, in a video message for Olympic Day, urged people around the world to take part in physical activity, aligning with this year’s theme.Her message supports the “Let’s Move” campaign and its central idea, “You Can Do This”, which encourages young people to overcome self-doubt through sport and movement.

Cricket returns to Olympics at LA28

The occasion also carries added significance for cricket, which is set to return to the Olympic stage at Los Angeles 2028 after more than a century. The sport last featured at the 1900 Paris Olympics and will now be played in the T20 format at LA28.