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The women's 100m title race will headline the first day of events at the LA28 Olympics as a key element in planners' strategies to “open with a bang”.

The unanticipated move, which will lead to every stage of the 100m being held on the identical date, received support by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who remarked that it demonstrated “track and field is having its moment”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith also backed the adjustment for the Games, 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.

Although runners normally run a maximum of twice a day, the sport’s governing body confirmed it had consulted widely with participants to guarantee they were on board the decision.

“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 clarified it had intentionally designed the timetable to enable as many competitors as possible to “enter more than one race”, not only in disciplines such as the sprints but additionally the middle-distance runs and the 1500m and 5,000m. Officials confirmed that there would be a decade’s worth of competition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a co-ed sprint relay making its debut, as well as three days of road events at the conclusion of the Games.

“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 line-up renders it improbable that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be able to run in both the 400m and the 400 hurdles, given the hurdles semifinals and the 400-meter championship are on the same day.

Swimming has customarily started the Summer Games. However, since it is being held in the SoFi venue, where the opening ceremony, it begins in the second week.

Organisers further stated that day one will include the most women’s finals ever in a 24-hour period in Olympic history, with the women’s triathlon gold medal one of the prizes available. They arranged a mega Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 titles across 23 sports at stake.

Shana Ferguson, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, explained the aim is to distribute around 14 million tickets across 51 disciplines at 49 venues, with public sales starting in spring 2026. Officials added that planners would not employ the contentious dynamic pricing model that caused anger among Oasis fans this past summer and was trialled by Fifa at the international club tournament in the United States.