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The female 100m final is set to feature on the first day of competition at the LA28 Olympic Games as a key element in planners' plans to “open with a bang”.

This unexpected decision, which will lead to every stage of the 100m taking place on the single day, received support by US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, who remarked that it showed “athletics is stepping into the spotlight”.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith endorsed the change for the Games, set 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 normally run a maximum of twice a day, World Athletics stated it had sought input broadly with competitors to ensure they supported the plan.

“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.’”

The international federation detailed it had deliberately arranged the program to enable as many competitors as possible to “double up”, not only in disciplines such as the 100m and 200m but additionally the middle-distance runs and the longer track events. Officials confirmed that there would be a decade’s worth of events at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay being introduced, plus 72 hours of road events at the end of the Games.

“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.”

However, the agenda makes it unlikely that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone may run in both the 400m and the 400 hurdles, given the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400m final occur simultaneously.

Aquatics has customarily kicked off the Olympics. But as it is being held in the SoFi venue, where the opening ceremony, it commences in the second week.

Organisers also confirmed that the first day will showcase the highest number of female championship events ever in a 24-hour period in Games’ history, with the female triathlon title one of the prizes available. They arranged a mega Saturday on the penultimate day, with 26 first-place awards across 23 disciplines at stake.

An LA28 official, LA28’s chief of sport and games delivery, said the goal is to distribute around 14 million passes across 51 events at 49 locations, with public sales starting in spring 2026. Officials added that planners are avoiding the disputed variable pricing strategy that provoked outrage among Oasis fans this past summer and experimented with by the football governing body at football’s Club World Cup in the US.