Players will compete at 10 events such as basketball, volleyball, table tennis, skiing and ice hockey in Pyongyang, Samjiyon and other places.

Present at the opening ceremony were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong Jin, vice-premier, officials concerned and sports persons in Pyongyang.

Minister of Physical Culture and Sports Ri Jong Mu in an opening address said that the contest will show high enthusiasm of sports persons across the country to glorify forever the immortal feats Kim Jong Il performed for developing the sports of the country and successfully realize the party's plan for building a sports power.

He noted that the proud achievements were made last year under the warm care of supreme leader Kim Jong Un who is showing profound benevolence for sports persons while paying deep attention to the country's sports, and they greatly encouraged the army and people to perform new feats.

The ceremony was followed by men's ice hockey game between the Taesongsan Sports Team and the Pyongyang Railway Bureau Sports Team.