LA28 lifeline: USA Cricket opens door to USOPC funding and elite training

USA Cricket’s LA28 Lifeline: Access to USOPC Funding & Elite Training

• Camp Overview

  • 26‑member USA men’s squad trained at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center (Colorado Springs) from 27–29 Sep.
  • Joint effort with ICC and USOPC; first structured exposure to the U.S. Olympic high‑performance system.

• Key Activities

  • Physical & medical screening, Functional Movement Screening, shoulder assessments, 20‑m sprint tests, and repeated running drills.
  • Results will feed into 24‑month individual performance plans ahead of LA28.

• Strategic Significance

  • USOPC has confirmed that national‑team players can use the Colorado Springs facility for training and injured players can access its rehabilitation infrastructure.
  • Provides a permanent high‑performance base that USA Cricket has lacked, offering advanced sports‑science support (force plates, 3‑D motion analysis, etc.).

• Financial Implications

  • USA Cricket remains under ICC suspension and is still finalising its exit from bankruptcy.
  • USOPC‑backed high‑performance support could become crucial, especially as LA28 approaches.
  • Rugby’s recent Olympic re‑entry shows potential funding: ~US$5.5 M in total USOPC resources for Paris 2024 (high‑performance grants, stipends, special grants, Operation Gold, centre support).

• ICC & Olympic Outlook

  • If cricket stays on the Olympic programme, ICC may need to create qualification pathways that give emerging markets like the U.S. a realistic route to participation.
  • A continental qualification structure could be a mechanism.
  • USOPC investment would be unprecedented for an Associate nation, potentially establishing a sustained athlete development and sports‑science infrastructure in the U.S.

• Broader Impact

  • Continued Olympic participation, coupled with USOPC investment, could help embed cricket more firmly in the U.S. sports market, benefiting both the national team and the ICC’s global growth strategy.