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This women's 100m title race is set to feature on the opening day of competition at the LA28 Olympic Games as a key element in organisers' plans to “open with a bang”.

The surprise decision, resulting in each heat of the 100m occurring on the single day, was welcomed by American track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson, who commented that it showed “track and field is having its moment”.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith also backed the switch for the Olympics, 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 sprinters normally race no more than twice per day, the sport’s governing body confirmed it had engaged extensively with competitors to make certain they were on board the arrangement.

“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 clarified it had deliberately arranged the program to allow as many athletes as possible to “double up”, not only in events including the 100m and 200m but also the 800m and 1500m and the longer track events. It said that there would be 10 days’ worth of events at the LA Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay premiering, along with 72 hours of road events at the conclusion 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 line-up renders it improbable that US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone may participate in the 400m and the 400 hurdles, since the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400m final fall on the identical date.

Aquatics has historically started the Olympics. Yet because it is occurring in SoFi Stadium, where the opening ceremony, it begins in the following week.

Organisers further stated that day one will feature the most women’s finals ever in a single day in Games’ history, with the female triathlon title one of the prizes available. They have also scheduled a action-packed Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 gold medals across 23 sports available.

An LA28 official, LA28’s chief of sport and games delivery, explained the plan is to distribute around 14 million passes across 51 Olympic sports at 49 locations, with public sales starting in spring 2026. Officials added that planners will not use the controversial dynamic pricing model that caused anger among Oasis fans recently and tested by Fifa at the Club World Cup in the United States.