This women's 100m title race will headline the first day of competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games as a key element in organisers' plans to “start with excitement”.
The unanticipated decision, resulting in each heat of the 100m occurring on the single day, received support by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who commented that it indicated “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.
Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith also backed the switch for the Games, set from July 15th to 30th. “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.
Although sprinters normally race no more than twice per day, World Athletics stated it had engaged extensively with participants to guarantee they supported the plan.
“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 explained it had deliberately arranged the schedule to allow as many athletes as possible to “enter more than one race”, not only in disciplines such as the sprints but additionally the 800m and 1500m and the longer track events. The organization stated there would be 10 days’ worth of competition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay being introduced, plus three days of street competitions 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.”
However, the agenda renders it improbable that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone may run in both the 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles, given the hurdles semifinals and the 400m final fall on the identical date.
Aquatics has customarily kicked off the Summer Games. Yet because it is taking place in SoFi Stadium, where the inaugural event, it commences in the following week.
Planners further stated that day one will include the most women’s finals ever in a 24-hour period in Games’ history, with the women’s triathlon gold medal one of the prizes available. They arranged a mega Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 first-place awards across 23 disciplines at stake.
Shana Ferguson, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, said the aim is to offer approximately 14 million passes across 51 events at 49 sites, with general ticket sales due to begin in April 2026. Officials added that planners are avoiding the contentious dynamic pricing model that sparked criticism among Oasis fans this past summer and was trialled by the football governing body at the international club tournament in the United States.
