One of the most anticipated changes for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is the scheduling of the women’s 100-meter sprint final on the opening day of competition, a historic first for the event. This decision by the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee (LA28) places the women’s event at the forefront of the Games, signaling a shift in priorities that reflects the growing global interest in women’s sports.
The full LA28 schedule, announced on Wednesday, includes a notable shift: the men’s 100-meter final will be held on the second day, while the women’s event will be the first major competition of the Games. “The women’s 100 meters will be one of the most-watched events, and we wanted to start with a showcase of the fastest females in the world,” LA28 chief of sport and Games delivery Shana Ferguson told reporters.
Opening day on July 15 will see all three rounds of the women’s 100 meters, an unprecedented number of events for the category. Typically, women’s track athletes run a maximum of two events per day in the Olympics, so this arrangement will be a significant change and likely to test the endurance and focus of the athletes. This move underscores LA28’s effort to create a more dynamic and engaging opening for the Games.
The scheduling decision comes at a time of increased popularity for women’s sports in the U.S. and globally. This aligns with broader efforts to protect the integrity of the women’s category, including the ongoing discussions about the inclusion of biologically male trans athletes in women’s events. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is reportedly moving toward enacting a new policy that would prohibit trans athletes from competing as women, according to multiple reports this week.
President Donald Trump has also voiced his support for measures to ensure that no males compete in women’s events, suggesting that genetic testing might be used at the LA Olympics. U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jonathan Finnoff recently stated that the USOPC is exploring options to make SRY gene tests available to U.S. sports governing bodies ahead of the LA Olympics. These measures aim to address concerns about unfair advantages in women’s sports.
Looking at the broader Games schedule, the 2028 Olympics will also introduce several new events and return some that have been absent for years. American flag football will make its Olympic debut, with men’s and women’s competitions starting on July 15 at Exposition Park Stadium. Baseball and softball will also return to the Olympics after a brief absence, with games held at Dodgers Stadium and OKC Softball Park, respectively.
Other major sports events will take place in the weeks leading up to the opening ceremony. Basketball, which the U.S. has dominated for the past three decades, will begin two days before the opening ceremony for the women on Wednesday, July 12, and one day before the opening ceremony for the men on Thursday, July 13. The women’s gold medal game will be held on Saturday, July 29, and the men’s final will be on Sunday, July 30. All basketball games will be held at the Inglewood Dome.
Overall, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature a unique schedule that sets the tone for the Games with a strong emphasis on women’s sports. The decision to feature the women’s 100-meter final on opening day reflects a growing commitment to gender equity and the recognition of women’s achievements in athletics. As the world looks forward to the LA28 Games, the scheduling of this historic event underscores the significance of women’s participation in the Olympic movement.