The 13th World Championships in Athletics in Daegu ended Sunday night with a festive closing ceremony that brought together athletes, officials, volunteers and citizens.

After nine days of competition, the organizing committee held the ceremony immediately following the championship's last event, the men's 400 meter relay final. The organizers thanked the athletes for their performances and promised to meet again in Moscow in two years.

Over 19-hundred athletes from 202 countries took part in the Daegu games. The tournament was filled with unexpected results marking a shift in the top tier track and field stars ahead of next year's London Olympics.

In the final event of the night, the Jamaican team set a new world record, the first in Daegu, in the men’s 400 meter relay. This was the second gold at the games for Usain Bolt following his gold medal performance in the men's 200 meter.

In the final medal tally, the United States ranked number one with 12 gold, eight silver and five bronze medals. Russia ranked second with nine gold and Kenya finished third.

In his farewell speech, organizing committee co-chairman and mayor of Daegu Kim Bum-il said that all citizens united to make the championship a success and that it will serve to spur the city to leap forward. He also wished for success in the Moscow championships.

After a video clip of the next host city was shown, Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik officially declared the close of the Daegu games.