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This female 100m title race will take center stage on the first day of competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as a key element in planners' strategies to “launch spectacularly”.

The surprise decision, resulting in each heat of the 100m occurring on the single day, was praised by US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, who stated that it indicated “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith supported the switch for the Games, scheduled 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.

While sprinters typically race no more than twice per day, the sport’s governing body announced it had engaged extensively with participants to make certain they agreed with the decision.

“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.’”

The international federation detailed it had intentionally designed the program to allow as many athletes as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not just in events including the 100m and 200m but also the middle-distance runs and the 1500m and 5,000m. The organization stated there would be a decade’s worth of competition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay making its debut, plus 72 hours of street competitions at the conclusion 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.”

However, the schedule suggests it’s doubtful that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone may participate in the 400m and the 400 hurdles, given the hurdles semifinals and the 400-meter championship fall on the identical date.

Aquatics has historically started the Olympics. But as it is occurring in the SoFi venue, which hosts the inaugural event, it commences in the following week.

Officials further stated that the first day will showcase the highest number of female championship events ever in a single day in Games’ history, with the women’s triathlon gold medal among those up for grabs. They arranged a mega Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 first-place awards across 23 sports at stake.

Shana Ferguson, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, said the plan is to sell about 14,000,000 tickets across 51 disciplines at 49 venues, with public sales starting in April 2026. Officials added that planners will not use the disputed variable pricing strategy that provoked outrage among music enthusiasts this past summer and tested by Fifa at the Club World Cup in the United States.