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The women's 100m title race will headline the first day of competition at the LA28 Olympics as part of organisers' strategies to “launch spectacularly”.

The surprise decision, which will lead to every stage of the 100m occurring on the same day, was welcomed by US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, who commented that it indicated “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith supported the adjustment for the Olympics, scheduled from July 15th to 30th. “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 typically run a maximum of twice a day, World Athletics confirmed it had engaged extensively with participants to guarantee they supported 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 detailed it had intentionally designed the timetable to enable as many competitors as possible to “double up”, not just in events such as the sprints but additionally the middle-distance runs and the longer track events. 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 Games.

“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.”

Yet, the line-up suggests it’s doubtful that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone may compete in the 400m and the 400 hurdles, because the hurdles semifinals and the 400m final fall on the identical date.

Swimming has traditionally initiated the Olympics. But as it is being held in SoFi Stadium, which hosts the opening ceremony, it commences in the second week.

Organisers also confirmed that day one will feature 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 have also scheduled a mega Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 gold medals across 23 disciplines available.

An LA28 official, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, explained the plan is to sell about 14,000,000 passes across 51 events at 49 locations, with public sales due to begin in spring 2026. Officials added that organisers will not use the contentious dynamic pricing model that sparked criticism among Oasis fans recently and experimented with by Fifa at the international club tournament in the US.