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Golf's return to Olympics for the first time since 1904 has
been hit by big-name male withdrawals over health concerns
triggered by the outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil.
The top four male golfers in the world -- Jason Day, Dustin
Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy -- have pulled out and
ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson fears a ripple effect.
"The IOC made it clear from the start that if we want to
persuade them, they want the top teams and the top athletes,"
Richardson told British media.
"I think this experience with golf might have made it even
harder for us to get in, because we will have to convince them
our top teams and players will be there.
"Will cricketers regard it as the pinnacle, or would they prefer
a World Twenty20, a World Cup, an Ashes series? And if it's not
the pinnacle, should we be in the Olympics in the first place?"
Cricket has struggled to venture into new markets away from its
traditional strongholds and the world governing body ICC has
decided to apply for the inclusion of women's cricket at the
2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban.
The ICC has also been exploring the possibility of getting the
sport added to the Olympic programme and president of the
Italian cricket board, Simone Gambino, has said it would be
included in the 2024 Olympics should Rome win the bid to host
the Games.
Richardson confirmed cricket's shortest Twenty20 format was
being considered for the Olympics.
"The majority of ICC members believe that if cricket was at the
Olympics it could do wonders for globalising the game," said the
former South Africa test cricketer.
"Sure, the World Twenty20 gets a lot of viewers around the world
but it attracts current cricket fans.
"If you want to really globalise the game - USA, China, Europe -
then we have to be at the Olympics." (Reporting by Amlan
Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
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