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This women's 100m title race will take center stage on the opening day of events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as a key element in organisers' plans to “start with excitement”.

This unexpected choice, which will lead to every stage of the 100m being held on the identical date, was praised by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who remarked that it showed “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith endorsed the switch for the Games, scheduled from July 15th to 30th. “This is a thrilling chance – honoring the lasting impact, resilience, and worldwide influence of women’s sprinting, a full century after women first entered Olympic athletics,” she continued.

Although runners typically compete up to two times daily, the sport’s governing body stated it had consulted widely with participants to guarantee they supported the decision.

“Being the standout competition on day one in the legendary LA Memorial Coliseum – as we described it to the athletes, enthusiasm grew,” shared Janet Evans, the chief athlete officer. “Many runners responded: ‘Just notify me. Tell me ahead of time, and I’ll train to complete three 100m races in one day.’”

The international federation detailed it had deliberately arranged the program to permit as many athletes as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not only in events like the sprints but additionally the middle-distance runs and the longer track events. It said that there would be a decade’s worth of events at the LA Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay premiering, plus 72 hours of road events at the conclusion of the Games.

“We have landed on an athletics programme that will start with a bang as our women’s sprinters take centre stage on day one,” said the World Athletics president, Seb Coe. “It is a schedule that is both innovative but also honours tradition, with the men’s marathon on the final day.”

Nonetheless, the agenda makes it unlikely that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be able to compete in the 400m and the 400 hurdles, because the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400m final are on the same day.

Aquatics has customarily initiated the Summer Games. But as it is taking place in the SoFi venue, where the inaugural event, it commences in the following week.

Officials additionally announced that the first day will include the most women’s finals ever in a 24-hour period in Olympic history, with the women’s triathlon gold medal one of the prizes available. They arranged a mega Saturday on the penultimate day, with 26 titles across 23 disciplines up for grabs.

Shana Ferguson, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, said the goal is to distribute around 14 million tickets across 51 Olympic sports at 49 locations, with public availability starting in spring 2026. It was also confirmed that planners are avoiding the contentious flexible ticket pricing that sparked criticism among Oasis fans this past summer and tested by Fifa at football’s Club World Cup in the United States.