The women's 100m final is set to feature on the inaugural day of events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as a key element in organisers' plans to “open with a bang”.
The surprise choice, that means every stage of the 100m being held on the same day, received support by US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, who stated that it demonstrated “track and field is having its moment”.
Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith supported the switch for the Games, scheduled from 15-30 July. “It’s such an exciting opportunity – celebrating the enduring legacy, strength and global power of women’s sprinting, exactly 100 years on from the first time women competed in Olympic track and field,” she added.
While sprinters usually run a maximum of twice a day, the sport’s governing body confirmed it had consulted widely with athletes to make certain they were on board 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 intentionally designed the schedule to permit as many athletes as possible to “double up”, not just in disciplines including the 100m and 200m but additionally the 800m and 1500m and the 1500m and 5,000m. It said that there would be 10 days’ worth of events at the LA Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay premiering, along with 72 hours of street competitions at the conclusion 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 line-up makes it unlikely that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be able to run in both the 400m and the 400 hurdles, because the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400-meter championship occur simultaneously.
Aquatics has customarily started the Summer Games. However, since it is occurring in the SoFi venue, which hosts the inaugural event, it commences in the following week.
Planners additionally announced that the first day will include the most women’s finals ever in a 24-hour period in Olympic history, with the women’s triathlon gold medal among those up for grabs. They arranged a Super Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 gold medals across 23 sports at stake.
An LA28 official, LA28’s chief of sport and games delivery, explained the aim is to sell about 14,000,000 tickets across 51 Olympic sports at 49 locations, with public sales scheduled to open in April 2026. It was also confirmed that planners are avoiding the disputed flexible ticket pricing that caused anger among Oasis fans in the summer and tested by Fifa at the international club tournament in the United States.