Following Korea’s successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, the country is warming up as a world-class sports nation with less than 50 days to go until the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011. Daegu City’s latest promotional effort is a campaign to encourage South Koreans nationwide to make it their goal to watch at least one competition.


“With about 50 days to go until the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011, and as of July 8, we have launched a campaign to urge all Daegu households to get out and watch at least one game,” Daegu Mayor Kim Beom-il said. “What we need more than anything else is the interest and support of all citizens in order to spread such enthusiasm throughout the whole nation.”
“The IAAF World Championships is a dynamic competition where the limitations of a human being can be decided in 3 to 4 seconds,” Kim added. “The true beauty of track-and-field sports can only be enjoyed by making a direct visit to the Daegu Stadium,” he added.


The mayor noted that track-and-field sports are fundamental to all other sports.
“We aim to promote our country as one that is strong in sports by successfully hosting the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011, while further raising the bar for track-and-field sports,” he said.


Now that the country has secured the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018, its international sports repertoire is one of global envy. The roster includes the summer Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and the IAAF World Championships. Only five countries have such a record -- Germany, France, Japan, Italy, and Russia.


Daegu City said plans are now underway to develop all kinds of specially tailored tourism products. The itinerary could include a temple-stay program, a game at the IAAF World Championships, Daegu’s Oriental medicine cultural tour, visits to Buddhist temples, and horse-back riding.