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The female 100m title race is set to feature on the first day of events at the LA28 Olympic Games as part of planners' strategies to “launch spectacularly”.

The surprise decision, that means all three rounds of the 100m occurring on the same day, received support by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who stated that it indicated “track and field is having its moment”.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith supported the change for the Olympics, set 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.

Although runners usually run a maximum of twice a day, the sport’s governing body announced it had consulted widely with participants to ensure they supported the decision.

“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.’”

World Athletics explained it had carefully structured the schedule to permit as many athletes as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not just in events such as the 100m and 200m but also the middle-distance runs and the 1500m and 5,000m. It said that there would be a decade’s worth of competition at the LA Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay making its debut, along with three days of street competitions at the end 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 agenda suggests it’s doubtful that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone may run in both the 400m and the 400 hurdles, because the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400-meter championship occur simultaneously.

Swimming has customarily kicked off the Summer Games. Yet because it is taking place in SoFi Stadium, which hosts the opening ceremony, it will now start in the following week.

Organisers additionally announced that day one will showcase the most women’s finals ever in a single day in Games’ history, with the female triathlon title among those up for grabs. Additionally, they planned a mega Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 first-place awards across 23 disciplines available.

Shana Ferguson, LA28’s chief of sport and games delivery, noted the goal is to offer approximately 14,000,000 tickets across 51 Olympic sports at 49 sites, with public sales due to begin in April 2026. It was also confirmed that organisers are avoiding the contentious variable pricing strategy that provoked outrage among Oasis fans in the summer and experimented with by the football governing body at the Club World Cup in the United States.