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This female 100m title race will headline the inaugural day of competition at the LA28 Olympic Games as part of organisers' plans to “start with excitement”.

The surprise decision, resulting in each heat of the 100m being held on the single day, was praised by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who commented that it showed “athletics is stepping into the spotlight”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith endorsed the switch for the Olympics, 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 normally compete up to two times daily, the sport’s governing body announced it had consulted widely with competitors to make certain they supported the arrangement.

“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.’”

World Athletics explained it had deliberately arranged the schedule to permit as many competitors as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not just in disciplines including the sprints but also the 800m and 1500m and the 1500m and 5,000m. It said that there would be a decade’s worth of competition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a co-ed sprint relay premiering, along with 72 hours of street competitions at the end of the Olympics.

“We’ve developed a track and field schedule that kicks off spectacularly with female sprinters in the spotlight on the first day,” stated Seb Coe, World Athletics president. “This programme blends creativity with respect for customs, featuring the men’s marathon on the closing day.”

Yet, the agenda renders it improbable that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone may compete in the 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles, given the hurdles semifinals and the 400-meter championship are on the same day.

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

Organisers additionally announced that the first day will feature the highest number of female championship events ever in a single day in Olympic history, with the female triathlon title among those up for grabs. They have also scheduled a mega Saturday on the penultimate day, with 26 gold medals across 23 sports available.

Shana Ferguson, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, noted the plan is to sell about 14 million passes across 51 disciplines at 49 locations, with public availability scheduled to open in spring 2026. It was also confirmed that organisers would not employ the disputed flexible ticket pricing that caused anger among Oasis fans in the summer and tested by Fifa at the Club World Cup in the United States.