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

The surprise decision, that means each heat of the 100m occurring on the same day, received support by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who commented that it showed “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith also backed the adjustment for the Games, set 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 normally race no more than twice per day, the sport’s governing body stated it had engaged extensively with participants to guarantee they were on board the decision.

“To be the pre-eminent event on the first night of competition in the historic LA Memorial Coliseum – when we presented it to the athletes that way, there was excitement,” said Janet Evans, the chief athlete officer for the Games. “A majority of athletes said to me: ‘Just let me know. Let me know early, and I’ll start training to run three 100s in one day.’”

World Athletics explained it had intentionally designed the timetable to enable as many athletes as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not just in disciplines including the sprints but also the 800m and 1500m and the longer track events. The organization stated there would be 10 days’ worth of events at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay making its debut, as well as three days of road events at the end of the Games.

“We’ve developed a track and field schedule that kicks off spectacularly with female sprinters in the spotlight on the first day,” stated Seb Coe, World Athletics president. “This programme blends creativity with respect for customs, featuring the men’s marathon on the closing day.”

However, the line-up makes it unlikely that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be able to participate in the 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles, since the hurdles semifinals and the 400-meter championship fall on the identical date.

Swimming has traditionally initiated the Olympics. Yet because it is being held in the SoFi venue, which hosts the inaugural event, it will now start in the second week.

Planners additionally announced that day one will include the highest number of female championship events ever in a single day in Olympic history, with the female triathlon title among those up for grabs. They have also scheduled a Super Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 first-place awards across 23 sports up for grabs.

An LA28 official, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, noted the aim is to sell about 14 million tickets across 51 events at 49 venues, with general ticket sales due to begin in April 2026. It was also confirmed that organisers will not use the contentious flexible ticket pricing that caused anger among music enthusiasts this past summer and tested by the football governing body at football’s Club World Cup in the United States.