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The female 100m title race will take center stage on the first day of competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as a key element in organisers' plans to “start with excitement”.

This unexpected choice, that means every stage of the 100m taking place on the identical date, received support by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who stated that it showed “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith supported the change for the Olympics, scheduled from 15-30 July. “It’s such an exciting opportunity – celebrating the enduring legacy, strength and global power of women’s sprinting, exactly 100 years on from the first time women competed in Olympic track and field,” she added.

Although sprinters usually race no more than twice per day, World Athletics announced it had engaged extensively with competitors to ensure they agreed with 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.’”

World Athletics clarified it had deliberately arranged the timetable to allow as many competitors as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not just in events including the sprints but additionally the 800m and 1500m and the 1500m and 5,000m. Officials confirmed 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 Olympics.

“Our athletics agenda begins explosively as women’s speedsters lead the way on opening day,” commented Seb Coe, head of World Athletics. “It’s a timetable that merges novelty with heritage, concluding with the men’s marathon.”

However, the schedule makes it unlikely that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can compete in the 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles, given the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400m final are on the same day.

Aquatics has customarily started the Summer Games. Yet because it is taking place in the SoFi venue, where the opening ceremony, it will now start in the second week.

Organisers also confirmed that the first day will showcase the most women’s finals ever in a single day in Olympic history, with the women’s triathlon gold medal among those up for grabs. They arranged a mega Saturday on the penultimate day, with 26 titles across 23 disciplines up for grabs.

An LA28 official, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, explained the goal is to distribute around 14 million passes across 51 disciplines at 49 locations, with public availability scheduled to open in spring 2026. It was also confirmed that planners will not use the contentious flexible ticket pricing that caused anger among Oasis fans recently and experimented with by Fifa at football’s Club World Cup in the United States.