Daegu Worlds to draw record number of athletes

The Daegu 2011 World Championships in Athletics will witness a record number of athletes in competition, said the international athletics governing body.

Based on data from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Daegu organizers announced that 1,945 athletes from 202 countries will participate in the international sporting event.

The IAAF finalized the entry list after reviewing athletes' qualification records and drug testing history.

The previous record for the number of athletes was 1,882 at the 1997 championships in Athens. Of this year's athletes, 1,046 are men and 899 are women.

The United States sends the largest number of athletes with a total of 155.

Jamaica will have a total of 51 athletes, led by double sprint world record holder, Usain Bolt who will start the championships as the defending 100m and 200m champion.

China sends 58 athletes, including its star hurdler Liu Xiang.

South Korea, as the host nation, has the right to enter one athlete in each event and will have 63 athletes.

Xinhua

Factbox on the host city - Daegu

The South Korean city of Daegu will?host the 2011 World Championships in Athletics from Aug 27 to Sept 4.

? ?* Located some 260 kilometers southeast of the capital Seoul, Daegu is South Korea's fourth-largest city with a population of more than 2.5 million.

? ?* The capital of Gyeongbuk province, Daegu is the region's political, economic and cultural core.

? ?* The city lies in a basin surrounded by mountains which make for hot, humid conditions in summer and trap cold, dry air in the winter. Temperatures typically top 30C (86F) in July and August and dip well below freezing in January and February.

? ?* Known as South Korea's "Textile City," the Samsung Group has its origins in Daegu. An economic downturn hit manufacturing hard in the area and it has now sought to take advantage of Korea's blossoming fashion industry and new technologies.

? ?* Daegu is home to some of Korea's top sports teams including the Samsung Lions (baseball)and Daegu Football Club.

? ?* South Korea's 13th president, Roh Tae-woo, hails from Daegu.

Agencies