The 11th People's Sports Contest, the Sports Contests for Mangyongdae Cup, Paektusan Cup, Pochonbo Torch Prize and other sports tournaments were held successfully amid care of the government, displaying the validity and vitality of the policy of popularizing physical culture and making it their daily routine.

Athletes fully displayed their techniques at the contests. They broke the records of the DPRK in four events of weightlifting, swimming and field and track at the Sports Contest for Mangyongdae Cup and 18 events of shooting, archery, field and track, swimming and weightlifting at the 11th People's Sports Contest.

Ball game and technical skill events registered a splendid development, producing many gold medal winners.

Korean boys and girls achieved brilliant successes in international tournaments, too.

The women's football team won the title of the 2008 Asian Women's Football Championship held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in June following their wins at 2001 and 2003 championships and emerged victorious at the 1st FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup New Zealand 2008, thus promoting the national glory.

Pak Hyon Suk and Hong Un Jong bagged gold medals respectively in the 63kg category of the weightlifting competition and in the vaulting horse contest of women's gymnastics at the 29th Olympic Games held in China.

Korean athletes were honored with gold medals at the 8th World Youth and Children Taekwon-Do Championships, the 5th World Women's Boxing Championships, the 4th Asian Taekwon-Do Championships, the 1st International Boxing Federation President Cup Contest, the 11th Asian Marathon Championships and other international tournaments by applying Korean-style athletic principles and methods.

The laudable achievements made in the sports field this year are brilliant fruits borne by the firm will of athletes to demonstrate the dignity and stamina of Songun Korea to the whole world.