ID :
203598
Fri, 08/26/2011 - 06:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/203598
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(Daegu Athletics) World Championships in Athletics set to kick off Saturday
DAEGU, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- The 13th World Championships in Athletics will kick off Saturday in this southeastern metropolitan city, with a record number of track and field stars on hand to compete on their sport's grandest stage.
Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is a first-time host of the signature event by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The biennial championships' first event is the women's marathon, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the opening ceremony is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
The men's 4x100 meters relay will cap off the competition on the night of Sept. 4.
A record 1,945 athletes from 202 countries are entered in 47 events. South Korea will be represented by 63 athletes -- fifth most among all participants -- in 34 events.
It has set out a modest goal of finishing in the top-10 in 10 events, an effort dubbed the "10-10" project. South Korea is trying to avoid becoming only the third host to be shut out of the medals.
Organizers have refurbished the 66,422-seat Daegu Stadium, laying down new Mondo track and installing high-tech video and sound systems.
The Mondo track, manufactured by an Italian company of the same name, was used in six consecutive world championships from 1995 to 2005. Known to provide more consistent bounce and traction for athletes, Mondo has yielded more than 230 world records.
The competition will also feature digital measurement systems for jumping and throwing events, and extra cameras will be set up for more accurate photo finishes.
Though South Korea isn't exactly a hotbed of athletics, organizers believe filling up the stadium won't be a problem. Through Wednesday, 436,000 tickets, or 96 percent of all tickets, have been sold, according to organizers.
Tickets for the opening day and Sunday's men's 100節? -- often the marquee event of the world championships -- are sold out, organizers said.
Local police have beefed up security for the international event, which, aside from athletes, is expected to host thousands of international officials, fans and journalists.
Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is a first-time host of the signature event by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The biennial championships' first event is the women's marathon, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the opening ceremony is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
The men's 4x100 meters relay will cap off the competition on the night of Sept. 4.
A record 1,945 athletes from 202 countries are entered in 47 events. South Korea will be represented by 63 athletes -- fifth most among all participants -- in 34 events.
It has set out a modest goal of finishing in the top-10 in 10 events, an effort dubbed the "10-10" project. South Korea is trying to avoid becoming only the third host to be shut out of the medals.
Organizers have refurbished the 66,422-seat Daegu Stadium, laying down new Mondo track and installing high-tech video and sound systems.
The Mondo track, manufactured by an Italian company of the same name, was used in six consecutive world championships from 1995 to 2005. Known to provide more consistent bounce and traction for athletes, Mondo has yielded more than 230 world records.
The competition will also feature digital measurement systems for jumping and throwing events, and extra cameras will be set up for more accurate photo finishes.
Though South Korea isn't exactly a hotbed of athletics, organizers believe filling up the stadium won't be a problem. Through Wednesday, 436,000 tickets, or 96 percent of all tickets, have been sold, according to organizers.
Tickets for the opening day and Sunday's men's 100節? -- often the marquee event of the world championships -- are sold out, organizers said.
Local police have beefed up security for the international event, which, aside from athletes, is expected to host thousands of international officials, fans and journalists.
