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The female 100m title race will take center stage on the first day of events at the LA28 Olympics as part of planners' strategies to “launch spectacularly”.

The surprise choice, which will lead to each heat of the 100m taking place on the identical date, received support by US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, who remarked that it indicated “athletics is stepping into the spotlight”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith endorsed the adjustment for the Games, 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 sprinters usually race no more than twice per day, the sport’s governing body confirmed it had consulted widely with participants to make certain 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.’”

The international federation explained it had carefully structured the timetable to allow as many athletes as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not only in events such as the 100m and 200m but also the middle-distance runs and the 1500m and 5,000m. Officials confirmed that there would be 10 days’ worth of events at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a co-ed sprint relay premiering, plus three days of street competitions at the end 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.”

However, the agenda renders it improbable that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can compete in the 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles, given the hurdles semifinals and the 400m final are on the same day.

Swimming has traditionally started the Summer Games. But as it is occurring in SoFi Stadium, where the opening ceremony, it will now start in the second week.

Planners additionally announced 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 among those up for grabs. Additionally, they planned a Super Saturday on the penultimate day, with 26 first-place awards across 23 disciplines at stake.

An LA28 official, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, noted the aim is to sell about 14,000,000 passes across 51 disciplines at 49 sites, with public sales due to begin in April 2026. Officials added that organisers are avoiding the controversial flexible ticket pricing that sparked criticism among Oasis fans recently and tested by Fifa at the Club World Cup in the United States.