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This women's 100m final is set to feature on the first day of events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as a key element in organisers' plans to “launch spectacularly”.

The unanticipated decision, that means all three rounds of the 100m occurring on the single day, received support by US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, who stated that it showed “athletics is stepping into the spotlight”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith endorsed the switch for the Olympics, 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 typically run a maximum of twice a day, World Athletics stated it had engaged extensively with participants to guarantee they were on board the arrangement.

“To be the pre-eminent event on the first night of competition in the historic LA Memorial Coliseum – when we presented it to the athletes that way, there was excitement,” said Janet Evans, the chief athlete officer for the Games. “A majority of athletes said to me: ‘Just let me know. Let me know early, and I’ll start training to run three 100s in one day.’”

World Athletics detailed it had intentionally designed the schedule to allow as many competitors as possible to “double up”, not only in events including the sprints but additionally the middle-distance runs and the longer track events. It said that there would be a decade’s worth of competition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay being introduced, 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.”

Yet, the schedule suggests it’s doubtful that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can run in both the 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles, because the hurdles semifinals and the 400m final fall on the identical date.

Swimming has historically started the Summer Games. Yet because it is occurring in SoFi Stadium, which hosts the inaugural event, it begins in the second week.

Planners further stated that day one will showcase the highest number of female championship events ever in a single day in Olympic history, with the female triathlon title one of the prizes available. They arranged a Super Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 gold medals across 23 sports up for grabs.

An LA28 official, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, explained the goal is to distribute around 14,000,000 tickets across 51 disciplines at 49 locations, with public sales starting in April 2026. Ferguson also confirmed that organisers will not use the controversial dynamic pricing model that sparked criticism among music enthusiasts in the summer and experimented with by the football governing body at football’s Club World Cup in the United States.