Daegu Stadium, the main venue for the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011, has passed the rigorous International Association of Athletics Federations’ test and obtained the IAAF Class 1 certificate.


The Organizing Committee for the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011 said, on May 6, “In the run-up to the championships, the urethane track of Daegu Stadium installed in 2001 was replaced with a Mondo track recommended by the IAAF to enhance the performance of the athletes and provide spectators with a better service.” He added, “With the IAAF Class 1 certificate followed by the highest-grade certificate from the government, in January, we have virtually finished all of the preparations for this venue.”    


The blue track will enhance the concentration of the participating athletes and lessen the eye strain of spectators and TV viewers. Daegu Stadium is the first sports facility in Korea to use a blue track. 


The Mondo track was installed in stadiums for eight Olympic Games from 1976 in Montreal to 2008 in Beijing, excluding the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Usain Bolt of the U.S. established a new world record in the 100 meter sprint with a time of 9.69 seconds on a Mondo track. Attention is on if Bold can break his record again on the Mondo track at Daegu Stadium.