World Athletics has released the full athletics timetable for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, unveiling one of the most significant schedule overhauls the sport has seen in decades. From shifting the entire athletics program into the first week of the Games to opening with the women’s 100 m final, LA28 promises a dramatically reimagined Olympic experience for athletes and fans.
Athletics Moves to Week 1 for the First Time
Breaking from more than a century of Olympic tradition, the athletics program will now take place largely in the first week of the Games, running from 15 July to 30 July 2028.
The opening 10 days (15–24 July) will be held at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, while the closing days will focus on road events, including the men’s marathon on the final day of competition.
This adjustment places athletics at the forefront of the Games, setting the tone and energy for the entire Olympic schedule.
One of the most striking changes is the decision to schedule the women’s 100 m heats, semi-finals, and final all on Day 1 of the athletics program.
The opening session on 15 July will also feature the men’s 10,000 m final and the women’s shot put final, creating one of the most high-profile opening days in Olympic history. The men’s 100 m final is set for Day 2, adding even more early excitement.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described the decision as “innovative while still honouring the sport’s traditions,” noting the symbolic significance of placing women’s sprinting at the heart of the Games’ opening moments.
Schedule Designed to Encourage Event Doubling
World Athletics has intentionally crafted the 2028 timetable to support athletes pursuing multiple events. The schedule supports several popular doubling combinations, including:
- 100 m & 200 m
- 200 m & 400 m
- 800 m & 1500 m
- 5000 m & 10,000 m
- Long jump & triple jump
Athletes such as Noah Lyles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden are expected to benefit from the new structure.
To further support performance and recovery, events have been spaced with built-in rest periods. For example, the 400 m will incorporate a repechage round with at least 36 hours of recovery, while the 800 m and 1500 m will see roughly 24 hours between rounds.
A Century-On Celebration of Women’s Athletics
The 2028 Games mark 100 years since women first competed in Olympic track and field (Amsterdam 1928). Positioning the women’s 100 m as the opening marquee event acknowledges that history while celebrating the global strength of women’s sprinting today.
Athletes worldwide have welcomed the move:
- Sha’Carri Richardson said the road to LA28 would be “special,” praising the energy and depth in the event.
- Dina Asher-Smith highlighted the symbolic power of launching the Games with the premier women’s sprint.
A New Era for Olympic Athletics
The LA 2028 schedule represents a bold rethinking of how athletics fits within the Olympic Games. By shifting to Week 1, championing innovation, and elevating women’s sport to the forefront of the program, World Athletics and LA28 have created a timetable that promises electric performances from start to finish.
More detailed session-by-session scheduling, including event times and finals lists, will be released closer to the Games.
With 2.5 year to go to the olympics who are we going to see represent Australia??? Exciting times ahead.
