Olympic Cricket-the story so far
PARIS 2024 REVIVES INTEREST IN CRICKET'S ONLY HISTORICAL OLYMPIC VENTURE
Paris 1900 and an international exhibition – later to be recognised as the second running of the modern Olympics – twelve young men, mainly from Devon and Somerset, take part in a two-day cricket match against another twelve-a mixture of British businessmen and ex-pats residing in the French capital.
The visiting side comes out victorious. A few years later this match is recognised as an Olympic event with the visitors representing specifically England and the vanquished representing France. Gold for the victors and silver for the vanquished – and as (to date) cricket has not featured again in an Olympic Games. 'England' retains the title of Olympic Cricket Champions!
"The story of this single Olympic match is a fascinating one," notes Sunderland-based sports historian Keith Gregson. "Some twenty years ago I started to explore it and came across the wonderful sports writer Richard Streeton who, then retired, encouraged me to write the story up."
Sadly Richard died just before Keith produced the resultant booklet in 2007 (see photo of Keith with the booklet opposite).
Keith continued; "After I finished researching the original booklet, I remained convinced that there was still much more to be discovered about the match and its participants."
Encouraged by fellow sports historian Malcolm Lorimer (who had published the booklet) and by Andy Anson, CEO of the British Olympic Association, Keith has carried out extensive further research and has effected a complete rewrite.
"In recent years, online sites such as the Genealogist and the British Newspaper Archive have opened up a new world for the social historian. We now know so much more about the participants in the match – and about the 'French' players in particular," he says.
With the current Olympics in Paris where the original Olympic cricket match took place and cricket due to return as an Olympic sport in 2028, 'Olympic Cricket – the story so far' is a timely publication worthy of perusal.
For further details Keith is at keith.gregson@talk21.com.
The republished booklet; 'OLYMPIC CRICKET -THE STORY SO FAR' or 'HOW AN ENGLISH SIDE BECAME OLYMPIC CRICKET CHAMPIONS AND RETAINS THAT TITLE TO THIS VERY DAY' can be ordered below.
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