In a bombshell schedule shake up that feels less like a swap and more like a seismic ‘Flipperoo,’ the organisers have declared that athletics will kick off the Games, headlined by the women’s 100m final on Day One. Swimming, the traditional curtain raiser, has been relegated to Week Two.
This isn’t just about moving dates; it’s about making a huge, shimmering, equality driven spectacle and perhaps giving the US network audience exactly what they want, right out of the gate.
The Venue Verdict: SoFi Stadium Says No to Quick Changes
The great ‘Athletics for Swimming’ switch wasn’t driven by some high minded ideological committee; it was driven by good old fashioned venue logistics.
The reason? SoFi Stadium, the shiny, futuristic home of American football, is co hosting the Opening Ceremony and the entire swimming competition. It takes a few days to convert a stadium capable of holding firework displays and giant parade floats into a venue fit for an Olympic pool. By moving swimming to the second week, they give themselves the necessary buffer time.
And there’s a bonus, as pointed out by LA28 Chief Athlete Officer, Janet Evans (a former gold medal swimmer herself): this allows the bulk of the swimming team, who traditionally start their competition the day after the opening, to actually attend the spectacular event. Finally, they can enjoy the fanfare instead of being sequestered in an ice bath.
Day One, Three Rounds: The Sprinter’s Dilemma
The truly ‘Super’ part of the new schedule is the women’s 100m final opening the athletics programme at the LA Memorial Coliseum. World Athletics President, Lord Coe, says the goal is to “kick off with a bang,” maximising global interest.
For British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, it’s an “honour… celebrating the enduring legacy, strength and global power of women’s sprinting” especially fitting as it’s nearly 100 years after women first competed in Olympic track and field.
But this honour comes with a gruelling challenge: the women’s 100m competitors will have to run all three rounds (heats, semi finals, and final) in a single day, a rarity for a major championships. The men, by contrast, get the luxury of running their final on Day Two, maintaining a more typical schedule.
While organisers consulted athletes and found a “largely positive conversation” from those who said they’d adapt their training, one can’t help but feel this is a very high price to pay for the spotlight. It’s a risk reward calculation: Can you handle three sprints in the LA heat for the chance to be the first champion crowned? The final winning time will be telling.
Equality and ‘Super Saturday’
Beyond the sprint switch, LA28 is pushing for equality across the board. The Games will feature a record number of female Olympians, with over 50.5% of the total athlete quota allocated to women. Day One will also feature the most women’s finals ever held in a single day, starting with the women’s triathlon.
And finally, for those planning their Olympic viewing party, mark your calendars for Day 15 (29 July), dubbed ‘Super Saturday.’ It will feature 26 finals across 23 sports, ensuring a day of total channel flipping chaos.
LA28 is setting itself up to be the biggest Games ever, featuring 36 sports and a staggering 49 venues. This entire schedule is a bold, logistical dance designed to maximise television engagement and venue efficiency. It’s an innovation that sacrifices tradition at the altar of spectacle, proving that sometimes, the fastest way to get global attention is to simply put your fastest women out first.
Janet Evans, LA28 Chief Athlete Officer
Related Topics: Athletics
