Daegu cheers as city wins bid to host 2011 world track meet
Daegu citizens shout for joy last night after learning that the southern city was chosen to host the 13th World Championships in Athletics in 2011. By Song Bong-geun
Lamine Diack, the president of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), said the decision was reached behind closed doors in Mombasa, Kenya, where 25 members of the group’s executive council cast secret ballots.
Meanwhile, as they watched the announcement last night, thousands of Daegu citizens cheered what many said was their happiest day in a city that has had its share of hardship in the past.
For a place that has seen so much adversity, becoming the host of a major international event couldn’t have come at a better time.
“Until today, we were the city where innocent children were kidnapped, underground gas pipelines exploded and subway trains caught fire,” said office worker Kim Won-sik, referring to a series of incidents that have hit the city of 2.5 million people over the last several years. “And now to experience such overwhelming joy, it’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Those running the city’s bid for the games gave credit to the enthusiasm of Daegu residents. Mayor Kim Bum-il said he was “eternally grateful” for the citizens’ support.
The vice president of the IAAF, Helmut Digel, said the organization was impressed with the passion that Daegu citizens displayed during the association’s on-site inspection in February.
Mayor Kim stressed in the final presentation that Daegu would host “the best ever, the biggest ever” world championships. Yoo Jong-ha, chairman of Daegu’s bid committee, stressed that Northeast Asia deserves more chances to host the athletics meet. Japan hosted it in 1991, and will do so again in August this year.
Some 3,500 athletes will compete in Daegu, in an event likely to draw thousands of visitors.
By Hong Gweon-sam JoongAng Ilbo/ Yoo Jee-ho Staff Writer [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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