Sachin Tendulkar, IOC President Thomas Bach Meet During Rugby Match

Former Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar "might just be the man who kickstarts cricket's push into the Olympic Games" after meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach in Rio, according to Michael Chammas of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Tendulkar "was a keen observer at the opening morning of the women's rugby sevens tournament, joining Bach in the stands" as they watched the Olympics' newest sport "take flight." Given India is not involved in the women's sevens tournament, Tendulkar's choice in sport and company at Deodoro Stadium "is particularly intriguing." The Int'l Cricket Council "previously indicated it would put forward a case for inclusion in the 2024 Olympics, with the snappy Twenty20 format seemingly ideal." Tendulkar, who is in Rio as a goodwill ambassador for the Indian Olympic Association, "was also mingling with rugby union executives who could provide an insight into how they managed to convince the governing body to introduce sevens to the list of sports at the Games" (SMH, 8/9).

Wonderful spending time with Mr Thomas Bach, IOC president at #Rio2016 @olympics pic.twitter.com/XinZoiD9W3

— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 7, 2016