Daegu 2011 logo (© IAAF.org)
MonteCarloThe biggest sports event on the planet in 2011, the 13th edition of the IAAF World Championships begins one-week tomorrow in Daegu, Korea, with nine days of competition running from Saturday 27 August to Sunday 4 September 2011 inclusive.
The list of impressive statistics from the last IAAF World Championships held two years ago in Berlin, Germany, confirms the magnitude of this event – 2000 athletes from over 200 national teams, 10,500 officials and volunteers, 4000 media representatives, 500,000 spectators, an accumulative total of 8 Billion TV Viewers world-wide, more than US$7 Million in prize money, and a $80 Million economic impact to the host city.
Aside the competitions in Daegu Stadium and on the streets of the host city which the world will marvel at, the administration of the sport also comes under the spotlight.
In the week prior to the championships, the members of the present IAAF Council meet at the Hotel Inter-Burgo for their last session (Mon 22) before elections for the executive body take place on the first day of the 48th IAAF Congress (Wed 24/Thu 25) which is held at the EXCO Convention Centre. The Congress Opening Ceremony takes place the evening before (Tue 23) at the Ballroom of the IB EXCO Hotel, a day on which the six Area Associations of the IAAF also hold meetings. On the conclusion of the first day of Congress discussions, an IAAF Press Conference (Wed 24) is hosted by IAAF President Lamine Diack.
The Technical Meeting of the IAAF World Championships is held in the EXCO Convention Centre after the conclusion of Congress on the afternoon of Thursday 25 August.
As is traditional on the day prior (Fri 26) to the start of the IAAF World Championships, the new IAAF Council meets the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with a joint press conference given by the Presidents of the IAAF and IOC, Lamine Diack and Jacques Rogge, following that meeting at the Hotel Inter-Burgo.
On Friday evening (26) the Local Organising Committee of Daegu 2011 hosts a 'Welcome Night', in Duryu Park, while on the following day the Official Opening Ceremony of the IAAF World Championships takes place in Daegu Stadium, ahead of the evening session of competition.
A second IAAF Council meeting is held on the morning of the last day of the championships (Sun 4), while at the end of the final session of competition at the stadium there is an Official Closing Ceremony, including the traditional handover of the IAAF flag to Moscow 2013, the next hosts of the IAAF World Championships, which is followed by a Final Banquet at the Athletes' Village.
Get set for Daegu 2011!
