The 13th World Championships in Athletics will be not only the biggest athletics event in its history but also the most advanced competition to use new technologies, according to the organizer.

More than 3,500 athletes and officials from 206 different countries are coming for the world’s third-biggest sporting event, which kicks off Aug. 27 in Daegu.

In order to prepare for the global event, Daegu has introduced new facilities, including an electronic machine that will clear and tidy jump sand pits. 

In long and triple jump events, officials need to tidy the surface of the sandpit every time one jumps and it used to take up to five minutes to prepare for the next jump. But the newly invented machine will reduce the time to just 30 seconds, according to the Daegu Organizing Committee. 

Another notable introduction in Daegu is a remote control vehicle which will be used for field events such as the javelin and hammer throw. The organizer believes that the 30cm-long vehicle will help reduce the risk of possible injuries while collecting javelins, hammers or shot puts, and also reduce waiting time during the competition.

To make the nine-day event more environmentally friendly, the local organizing committee has also prepared 22 electronic vehicles which will transfer hurdles, pole vaults as well as athletes.

Daegu Mayor Kim Bum-il said on Thursday that the city is now fully ready to host the biennial global event.

“We’ve prepared everything from the competition venue, athletes’ village and the media center to host the event. I believe it will be the best athletics event ever,” he said.

Meanwhile, the International Association of Athletics Federations has confirmed its prize money for the Daegu World Championships. The winner in the individual event will receive $60,000 while the runner-up will earn $30,000 in Daegu. The bronze medalist will receive $20,000.

In relays, the gold medal prize is $80,000, while the silver and the bronze medal are $40,000 and $20,000 respectively. And athletes who set a new world record at the Daegu World Championships will also receive a special prize of $100,000 offered by its official sponsors Toyota and TDK, according to the IAAF.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)