Athletics fans can look forward to record-breaking performances at the IAAF World Championships, Daegu 2011 as a new blue-coloured track supplied by Mondo was officially inaugurated at the Daegu Stadium today.
Among the dignitaries were the Daegu Mayor Bum-Il Kim; LOC Co-President Hae-Nyoung Cho; IAAF Council Members Cesar Moreno and Rocky Park; Andrea Vallauri from Mondo; and LOC Vice President and Secretary General Dong-Hoo Moon.
Nine athletes who won medals in athletics at the recently concluded Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, were also invited to the ceremony.
After the ribbon-cutting session and a montage of the medal-winning performances at the Asian Games, the athletes briefly showcased their respective events to the delight of the participating media and LOC staff.
"One of the most prominent features is that it is the first blue-coloured track in the whole of Korea," said Bum-Il Kim, mayor of the Daegu Metropolitan City. "We have laid the groundwork for athletes to achieve their lifelong dreams in Daegu."
Speaking at a press briefing IAAF Council Member and Technical Delegate Cesar Moreno praised the Local Organising Committee's (LOC) efficiency in delivering on its promises.
The Daegu Stadium already had a Class 1 track certified by the IAAF. The decision to resurface the track, and its delivery well ahead of the Championships, are testament of the LOC's commitment to quality and punctuality.
Andrea Vallauri, export director of the Official Supplier Mondo, added that the Daegu track would be the same as the one to be used at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The quality of the Daegu track is the "most updated" around the world, with colours that complement the Colorful Daegu brand.
In addition, Dong-Jin Oh, president of the Korea Athletics Federation, stated that the national team athletes are training hard to meet the Entry Standards established by the IAAF. He assured the media that "the national team will do Korea proud".
Concerning the promotion of the Championships, the Mayor emphasised on the city government and Local Organising Committee's joint efforts in promoting the Championships nationally, including a strong push for full ticket sales.