The Main Press Center for the Daegu World Championships in Athletics opened on Friday.

It will provide 24-hour service for over 2,800 registered journalists during the nine day competition between Aug. 27 and Sept. 4.

The International Broadcast Center also began operation Friday following a special opening ceremony at the Daegu Stadium.

For the first time in the competition’s history, the MPC is located inside the main stadium. The 2,800 square-meter MPC will provide workstations for 500 journalists and 170 photographers.

Free high-speed Internet access will be available at the MPC. This includes 50 desktop computers with broadband connectivity.

It is also equipped with high definition TVs in the work area to watch the games, according to the Daegu Organizing Committee.

The IBC, with a total space of 6,800 square meters, located just west of the main stadium, will be the base for broadcasters during the nine-day competition.

Other facilities include a 144-seat press conference room and media seating, located just above the finish line, that can accommodate 1,020 journalists.

Free Internet access, TV monitors and a commentary information system will be available at the media tribune, the organizer said.

With just one week to go to until the opening ceremony of the 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Daegu is gearing up to welcome the world’s top athletes.

The city, located some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, has successfully hosted various international events, including the 2003 Summer Universiade and also Pre-Daegu World Championships in May. But it is the first time Korea will host the IAAF World Championships. To host the global event, Daegu has installed a stat-of-art Mondo running track at the Daegu Stadium, and also replaced its electronic signboards with larger and high-definition screens with 4.4 billion won (around $4 million) investment.

By Oh Kyu-wook