The organizing committee for the 2003 Summer Universiade in Daegu said Tuesday 167 countries have officially applied to take part in the sporting event despite the city's recent subway fire and the ongoing conflict in Iraq.

A committee spokesman said the number represents the largest in the history of the Summer Universiade, noting the previous record was 164 for the 2001 Beijing Universiade.

The organizing committee expects North Korea and several more countries to present letters of intention to join the event slated for Aug. 21-31.

The committee said Iraq, which is currently at war with a United States-led coalition of forces, has sent a letter expressing its willingness to take part in the Summer Universiade in Daegu.