The newly re-built Taipei Track and Field Stadium will be inaugurated on July 23, just in time for the 2009 Chinese Taipei International Athletic Meet, which will be held from July 24-25 at the venue, organizers said Tuesday. Speaking at a news conference regarding the Thursday opening of the Taipei athletic meet, Wu Ching-shan, head of Taipei City's Education Department, hailed the high standards of the facility that has been certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA). Re-building of the 50-year-old stadium took four years to complete and required a budget of NT$3 billion (US$91.46 million), Wu said. The newly rebuilt stadium has a capacity for 20,000 people, compared to around 7,000 for the old stadium. According to Wu, the stadium in downtown Taipei will be the main venue in the city where most international sporting events will be held. These events include the upcoming 2009 Chinese Taipei International Athletic Meet and the 21st Summer Deaflympics Taipei 2009, which will take place from Sept. 5-15. According to the Chinese Taipei Track & Field Association, which is co- sponsoring the international athletic meet with the Taipei city government, 249 athletes and coaches from 12 countries will take part in the competitions. 