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Cricket Is Not a Sport, Russia Says

Gabrielle Ludlow / Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Russia has officially refused to recognize cricket — which is considered the second most popular sport in the world after football —  as a sport, according to a Russian Sports Ministry memo.

Russia’s “registry of sports” lists recognized disciplines that include ice stock sport — similar to curling — and korfball — a Dutch unisex sport. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized cricket, which has not been featured in the Summer Games since 1900, a decade ago.

“Refuse recognition of cricket as a sport,” reads the memo authored by Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov dated Monday, July 15.

The directive also lists Thai boxing known as Muay Thai as a non-sport in Russia.

The Russian Sports Ministry decision came a day after host nation England won the cricket World Cup.

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