Daegu has been chosen to host the 2011 World Athletics Championships. The decision for the city fell at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council over bids by Barcelona and Brisbane. Moscow will host the 2013 World Athletics Championships.

The championships will be a boon to Daegu, which is to welcome some 3,000 members of the world press and 1,000 officials from the International Olympic Committee and IAAF. Its success encouraged local governments and organizations in their bids for three other international events -- Incheon for the 2014 Asian Games, Pyeongchang for the 2014 Winter Olympics and Yeosu for the 2012 World Expo.

The Daegu bid committee won over the IAAF council in the last presentation before the vote by promising free meals and accommodation for athletes and executives, discounts for accommodation of press, funds of US$1.5 million for the IAAF athletics school program and an international athletic academy in Daegu.

The world championships is viewed by 6.5 billion people in more than 200 countries during nine days of games. For Daegu, it is expected to mean creation of 6,800 jobs and W600 billion (US$1=W941) in economic effects.