The Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics are shaping up to be a groundbreaking event in many respects, with several unprecedented changes announced in the recently released full schedule. Among the most notable updates is the historic decision to hold the women’s 100-meter track final on the very first day of competition, July 15, marking the first time in Olympic history that this event will open the Games. Traditionally, men’s and women’s 100-meter finals have been scheduled differently, but in LA28, the women’s final will take center stage from the start, with the men’s final pushed to the following day. This shift highlights a broader movement to elevate women’s sports and provide greater visibility to female athletes on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Shana Ferguson, the chief of sport and Games delivery for LA28, explained the reasoning behind this change during a press briefing. She emphasized that the women’s 100 meters is expected to be one of the most-watched events at the Games, and organizers wanted to begin with a showcase celebrating the fastest female athletes globally. The opening day will be especially demanding for women sprinters, as all three rounds of the 100 meters—the preliminary heats, semifinals, and finals—will take place on the same day. This scheduling is unprecedented, as Olympic women’s track athletes typically run a maximum of two events per day. The decision to compress these rounds into a single day introduces new challenges and opportunities for the competitors and signals the organizers’ commitment to prioritizing the women’s category.
This emphasis on women’s sports comes amid a surge in popularity and increased attention to issues surrounding the integrity and fairness of women’s competitions worldwide. In recent years, there has been a growing global conversation regarding the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, with debates focusing on ensuring a level playing field. Reports indicate that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is moving toward implementing a policy that would prohibit transgender women from competing in women’s events at the Olympics, reflecting a shift toward stricter eligibility criteria based on biological factors.
Adding to this discourse, former President Donald Trump suggested in August that the LA Olympics might introduce some form of genetic testing to guarantee that only biological females compete in women’s events. The idea of genetic testing as a means to uphold fairness has garnered debate and controversy but underscores the heightened scrutiny around this issue. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is reportedly exploring similar measures; Dr. Jonathan Finnoff, the USOPC’s Chief Medical Officer, mentioned last month that the committee is considering making SRY gene tests available to U.S. sports governing bodies ahead of the 2028 Games. The SRY gene is associated with male development, and such testing could be used to determine eligibility for women’s competitions.
Beyond track and field, the LA28 Olympics will introduce several other new and returning sports that reflect evolving trends in the Olympic movement. One exciting debut is American flag football, which will feature both men’s and women’s competitions starting on July 15 at Exposition Park Stadium. Flag football’s inclusion marks the first time this sport will be part of the Olympics, offering a new opportunity for athletes and fans alike. The men’s gold medal game is scheduled for July 21, followed by the women’s final on July 22.
Baseball and softball, which were absent from the 2024 Paris Games, will make a comeback in Los Angeles. All baseball games will be held at Dodgers Stadium, beginning on July 13, with the gold medal game set for July 19. Softball games will take place at OKC Softball Park, kicking off on July 23, with the final scheduled for July 29. Their return is expected to delight longtime fans of these sports and provide a boost to the Olympic program’s diversity of events.
Basketball continues to be a major draw for the U.S., which has dominated the sport for the past 30 years. The 2028 schedule places women’s basketball competition starting two days before the opening ceremony, on July 12, while men’s basketball will begin on July 13, one day before the official start. Both tournaments will be held at the Inglewood Dome. The women’s gold medal game is slated for July 29, with the men’s final following on July 30. Beginning these basketball competitions ahead of the opening ceremony is unusual but reflects strategic planning to accommodate a packed schedule.
Overall, the 2028