Daegu's legacy expected to inspire Korean youth

The 13th world championships showed South Korea has a long way to go before its athletes will be vying for medals at major events, but the legacy it left behind should inspire future generations to throw their heart and soul into track and field.  

Almost a quarter of a century after Seoul blossomed on the world stage with the 1988 Summer Games, the southeastern city of Daegu delivered on its promise to host a spectacular and successful championships.

The magnificent venue set among low, misty mountains was crammed with spectators on each competition day, more pleasingly with thousands of school children getting their first look at Usain Bolt and other top-class athletes. 

Many will remember the agony of Bolt's false start and disqualification in the 100 metres. Others will have felt the hair stand up on the back of their necks as he screamed across the line in anchoring Jamaica to a relay world record.

IAAF president Lamine Diack congratulated the city and local organisers for hosting a successful championships, praising the facilities as well as the vibrant, "delightful" atmosphere in the stadium.

"This represents a victory for Korea and for the whole continent of Asia, for which we have great hopes," he added.

South Korea will also host the Winter Olympics in 2018 and Pyeongchang could draw on Daegu's experience in terms of transportation, communications and attracting fans to venues.

Daegu mayor Kim Bum-il was proud that his city, just the fourth-largest in South Korea, had enjoyed a successful championships.

"Despite the fact that athletics may not have been popular in Korea and that Daegu is a local city, this world championships can be considered as a huge success that can rival past championships held in other global cities," he added. 

While Korea had become the third host country not to win a medal at a world championships, Kim said the huge numbers of spectators could one day translate into track and field success.

"Most of all I believe that this world championships has provided the perfect platform to further develop Korean athletics," he added. 

  "The Korean public, especially those in the stadium, are now appreciative of how important and fun the sport of athletics can be."