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This female 100m title race is set to feature on the inaugural day of events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games as part of planners' plans to “start with excitement”.

This unexpected move, that means each heat of the 100m occurring on the identical date, was praised by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who remarked that it indicated “track and field is having its moment”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith also backed the switch for the Olympics, set from 15-30 July. “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 typically run a maximum of twice a day, World Athletics confirmed it had sought input broadly with competitors to ensure they were on board 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.’”

The international federation explained it had deliberately arranged the program to allow as many competitors as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not only in events including the 100m and 200m but also the 800m and 1500m and the 1500m and 5,000m. Officials confirmed that there would be a decade’s worth of events at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay making its debut, as well as 72 hours of road events at the end of the Olympics.

“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.”

Nonetheless, the agenda suggests it’s doubtful that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can participate in the 400m and the 400 hurdles, because the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400m final fall on the identical date.

Aquatics has customarily started the Summer Games. But as it is being held in SoFi Stadium, where the opening ceremony, it will now start in the following week.

Officials additionally announced that day one will feature 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. Additionally, they planned a action-packed Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 first-place awards across 23 sports at stake.

An LA28 official, LA28’s chief of sport and games delivery, noted the aim is to sell about 14 million tickets across 51 events at 49 locations, with public sales starting in spring 2026. Officials added that organisers would not employ the disputed flexible ticket pricing that sparked criticism among Oasis fans this past summer and was trialled by the football governing body at football’s Club World Cup in the US.