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This women's 100m title race will headline the opening day of events at the LA28 Olympics as part of organisers' plans to “launch spectacularly”.

The surprise decision, which will lead to each heat of the 100m taking place on the single day, was welcomed by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who remarked that it indicated “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith endorsed the adjustment for the Olympics, set from 15-30 July. “What an inspiring moment – marking the sustained heritage, power, and international reach of female sprinters, precisely one hundred years after their Olympic debut,” she noted.

Although runners typically race no more than twice per day, World Athletics announced it had sought input broadly with participants to guarantee they agreed with the plan.

“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 clarified it had deliberately arranged the timetable to enable as many athletes as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not just in events including the sprints but also the 800m and 1500m and the 1500m and 5,000m. The organization stated there would be a decade’s worth of competition at the LA Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay being introduced, along with three days of street competitions 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 line-up makes it unlikely that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can participate in the 400m and the 400 hurdles, given the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400-meter championship fall on the identical date.

Aquatics has customarily started the Summer Games. However, since it is being held in SoFi Stadium, which hosts the inaugural event, it will now start in the second week.

Organisers additionally announced that day one will include the highest number of female championship events ever in a single day in Games’ history, with the female triathlon title among those up for grabs. They have also scheduled a action-packed Saturday on the penultimate day, with 26 titles across 23 disciplines available.

An LA28 official, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, noted the aim is to sell about 14 million passes across 51 events at 49 locations, with public availability scheduled to open in April 2026. Officials added that planners are avoiding the controversial flexible ticket pricing that caused anger among Oasis fans recently and was trialled by Fifa at football’s Club World Cup in the US.