Preparations have begun for the 2011 Daegu World Athletics Championships with the formal launching of an organizing committee.

The Daegu metropolitan government formally launched the committee Friday, with 200 people in attendance, including Culture Minister Kim Jong-min and Daegu Mayor Kim Bum-il.

The committee, which will be chaired by the mayor, comprises 91 people from all walks of life.

The mayor of Korea's third-largest city pledged his full cooperation to help the committee prepare for the international sports event, which he said will transform Daegu into an advanced city and improve Korea’s status in the world.