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This female 100m title race will headline the inaugural day of competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games as part of planners' plans to “open with a bang”.

The surprise decision, which will lead to all three rounds of the 100m being held on the same day, was praised by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who commented that it showed “track and field is having its moment”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith supported the adjustment for the Olympics, scheduled from 15-30 July. “What an inspiring moment – marking the sustained heritage, power, and international reach of female sprinters, precisely one hundred years after their Olympic debut,” she noted.

While runners typically run a maximum of twice a day, World Athletics stated it had consulted widely with competitors to make certain they agreed with the arrangement.

“Hosting the premier event on the opening evening at the iconic LA Memorial Coliseum – when we explained it to competitors, they were thrilled,” noted Janet Evans, the Games’ chief athlete officer. “Most athletes told me: ‘Simply inform me. Give me advance notice, and I’ll prepare to race three 100-meter events in a single day.’”

The international federation explained it had deliberately arranged the schedule to allow as many athletes as possible to “enter more than one race”, not just in disciplines such as the 100m and 200m but also the 800m and 1500m and the longer track events. Officials confirmed that there would be 10 days’ worth of competition at the LA Coliseum, with a co-ed sprint relay premiering, plus 72 hours 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.”

Nonetheless, the schedule makes it unlikely that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be able to compete in the 400m and the 400 hurdles, since the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400-meter championship fall on the identical date.

Swimming has traditionally started the Summer Games. However, since it is occurring in the SoFi venue, where the opening ceremony, it commences in the following week.

Officials further stated that the first day will showcase the highest number of female championship events ever in a 24-hour period in Olympic history, with the women’s triathlon gold medal one of the prizes available. They arranged a action-packed Saturday on the penultimate day, with 26 titles across 23 disciplines at stake.

An LA28 official, LA28’s chief of sport and games delivery, said the plan is to distribute around 14,000,000 tickets across 51 disciplines at 49 venues, with public sales due to begin in spring 2026. Officials added that planners are avoiding the contentious variable pricing strategy that sparked criticism among Oasis fans this past summer and tested by the football governing body at football’s Club World Cup in the US.