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This women's 100m title race is set to feature on the first day of events at the LA28 Olympic Games as a key element in organisers' strategies to “launch spectacularly”.

The surprise choice, which will lead to each heat of the 100m occurring on the identical date, was welcomed by US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, who stated that it showed “athletics is stepping into the spotlight”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith endorsed the switch for the Olympics, scheduled 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 typically compete up to two times daily, the sport’s governing body announced it had engaged extensively with competitors to ensure they were on board the arrangement.

“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 detailed it had deliberately arranged the program to enable as many athletes as possible to “compete in multiple events”, not only in disciplines including the sprints but also the 800m and 1500m and the 1500m and 5,000m. The organization stated there would be a decade’s worth of competition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay premiering, plus 72 hours of road events at the end of the Olympics.

“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.”

Nonetheless, the line-up suggests it’s doubtful that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be able to run in both the 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles, given the hurdles semifinals and the 400-meter championship are on the same day.

Aquatics has traditionally started the Summer Games. However, since it is being held in the SoFi venue, which hosts the inaugural event, it will now start in the following week.

Planners further stated that day one 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. They have also scheduled a mega Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 titles across 23 disciplines available.

Shana Ferguson, the head of sport and games delivery for LA28, explained the aim is to offer approximately 14,000,000 tickets across 51 disciplines at 49 locations, with public sales scheduled to open in April 2026. It was also confirmed that planners will not use the contentious dynamic pricing model that caused anger among Oasis fans recently and tested by Fifa at the Club World Cup in the United States.