In a dramatic departure from Olympic tradition, track and field events will launch the Los Angeles 2028 Games with the women's 100 metres final taking centre stage on the very first day of competition.
Historic Schedule Reshuffle
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed a major programme shakeup that will see athletics replace swimming as the opening week's headline act. This marks the first time in modern Olympic history that track and field hasn't been scheduled for the second week of competition.
World Athletics president Lord Coe expressed his excitement about the change, stating the sport would begin "with a bang" as female sprinters take the spotlight on July 15, 2028. All three rounds of the women's 100m will be contested on that single day at the historic LA Memorial Coliseum, culminating in the crowning of the fastest woman on the planet.
Sprinters Face New Challenge
The compressed schedule presents a significant challenge for athletes accustomed to running a maximum of two races per day at major events. The women's field, which could feature current stars like Sha'Carri Richardson, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and Olympic champion Julien Alfred, now has three years to prepare for this demanding new format.
British sprint star Dina Asher-Smith welcomed the historic move, noting the significance of women's sprinting opening the Games exactly 100 years after women first competed in Olympic track and field. "It will be an honour for the women's 100m to open the LA Games," she declared.
Venue Logistics Drive Change
The schedule swap was necessitated by venue arrangements, with both the opening ceremony and swimming competitions scheduled for SoFi Stadium. Organisers determined it wasn't feasible to install the competition pool immediately following the elaborate opening ceremony production.
Four-time Olympic gold medallist Janet Evans, now chief athlete officer for the LA Games, said swimmers had embraced the opportunity to compete in what's considered LA's premier new stadium before 38,000 spectators. The change also allows swimmers to attend the opening ceremony for the first time in many cases.
"I could probably name on my two hands the swimmers I know who have actually been to opening ceremonies," Evans revealed, highlighting the significance of this scheduling adjustment for aquatic athletes.
Impact on Star Athletes
While the new schedule creates opportunities for some, it presents challenges for others. The programme appears to have dashed hopes for American athletics star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to attempt a 400m and 400m hurdles double.
The world record holder and two-time defending hurdles champion had been considering the ambitious double, but the scheduling of the 400m hurdles semi-finals and 400m final both on July 20 makes the attempt virtually impossible.
The first medal event of the LA 2028 Olympics will be the women's triathlon, with the full competition schedule having been published this week, giving athletes and fans alike a clear picture of what promises to be a groundbreaking Games.
