Co-President Hae-Nyoung Cho addresses members of the Daegu 2011 LOC on 4 Jan 2010 (© IAAF.org)
Nyoung Cho, coPresident of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Daegu 2011, presided over the first staff meeting of 2010 today, as the first official work day in Korea coincided with a record 25.8cm snowfall nationwide.
Cho announced that the Korean National Government has designated the 2011 IAAF World Championships as a ‘Major National Project for the Year 2010’. With this designation, the LOC is guaranteed of increased governmental support and focus, ensuring that the 2011 World Championships will be the best ever in the history of Athletics.
“This is delightful news and a wonderful way to commence 2010, the Year of the White Tiger,” exclaimed the co-president. The tiger is the most powerful and popular symbol in Korea.
With such support, Cho expressed his confidence in successfully hosting the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011, which would help introduce the world to Korean tradition and culture.
“This year will be a year of rehearsals, from the various meetings and site visits to the 6th Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships 2010,” Cho reminded every staff. “We must work hard and enhance our teamwork!”
This will be a watershed year for the LOC, which is expecting the 2nd Technical Delegates’ Site Visit in February; the site visits of the IAAF Coordination Commission in April and October, spearheaded by Senior Vice President Sergey Bubka; the 2nd Daegu International Marathon on 11 April; the IAAF World Challenge ‘6th Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships Meeting 2010’ on 19 May; the Team Leaders’ Site Visit on 20/21 May; and the Technical Suppliers’ Meeting, also in May.
The LOC will also launch its official mascot on 14 April, on the occasion of the D-500 Days Countdown Event. Exactly a year before the 2011 World Championships on 27 August, the LOC will launch its official ticket sales to the public.
With the busy schedule looming ahead, it is vital to have the enthusiastic support of not only the government, but also from Korean citizens.
Cho also presented the ‘Outstanding Supporters of the 2011 World Championships’ awards to four individuals, who have extended exceptional support to the Organizing Committee over the years. They were: Geun Shik Yang, principal of Neungin High School; Sang Jun Seo, president of the Unbulryeon Taxi Association; and Yang Mi Yoon and Bong Shik Jeong, both volunteers of the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011.
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