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The women's 100m final will take center stage on the inaugural day of events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as part of planners' strategies to “start with excitement”.

The unanticipated choice, resulting in each heat of the 100m occurring on the single day, was praised by US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, who remarked that it indicated “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith also backed the adjustment 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 sprinters usually compete up to two times daily, the sport’s governing body announced it had engaged extensively with competitors to ensure they supported the arrangement.

“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 explained it had carefully structured the timetable to allow as many competitors as possible to “double up”, not only in disciplines such as the sprints but additionally the middle-distance runs and the 1500m and 5,000m. The organization stated there would be 10 days’ worth of events at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a co-ed sprint relay premiering, as well as 72 hours of road events at the end 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 line-up renders it improbable that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be able to compete in the 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles, because the hurdles semifinals and the 400m final fall on the identical date.

Swimming has traditionally kicked off the Olympics. But as it is being held in the SoFi venue, which hosts the opening ceremony, it begins in the following week.

Planners further stated that day one will feature 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. Additionally, they planned a Super Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 first-place awards across 23 disciplines up for grabs.

Shana Ferguson, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, explained the plan is to distribute around 14 million tickets across 51 Olympic sports at 49 sites, with public availability scheduled to open in April 2026. Officials added that planners would not employ the controversial dynamic pricing model that sparked criticism among Oasis fans recently and tested by the football governing body at the Club World Cup in the United States.