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The female 100m final will take center stage on the opening day of competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as a key element in organisers' plans to “launch spectacularly”.

The surprise move, that means all three rounds of the 100m being held on the single day, received support by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who commented that it demonstrated “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith also backed the switch for the Games, set 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.

While sprinters usually run a maximum of twice a day, World Athletics confirmed it had sought input broadly with athletes to make certain they supported the plan.

“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 clarified it had deliberately arranged the timetable to allow as many athletes as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not just in disciplines including the sprints but also the middle-distance runs and the 1500m and 5,000m. Officials confirmed that there would be a decade’s worth of competition at the LA Coliseum, with a co-ed sprint relay premiering, along with 72 hours of road events at the end of the Games.

“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.”

Yet, the agenda renders it improbable that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can participate in the 400m and the 400 hurdles, since the hurdles semifinals and the 400m final are on the same day.

Swimming has historically initiated the Olympics. Yet because it is taking place in the SoFi venue, which hosts the inaugural event, it begins in the following week.

Planners also confirmed that the first day will feature the most women’s finals ever in a single day in Games’ history, with the women’s triathlon gold medal among those up for grabs. They arranged a action-packed Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 titles across 23 disciplines up for grabs.

Shana Ferguson, LA28’s chief of sport and games delivery, explained the plan is to offer approximately 14,000,000 tickets across 51 disciplines at 49 sites, with public availability scheduled to open in spring 2026. Ferguson also confirmed that planners would not employ the contentious flexible ticket pricing that provoked outrage among Oasis fans in the summer and was trialled by Fifa at the international club tournament in the US.