Pyongyang, September 8 (KCNA) -- The 17th ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships opened with splendor at the Taekwon-Do Hall in Pyongyang on Thursday.

More than 800 players and guests of honor from over 80 countries and regions participated in the championships. It draws attention of Taekwon-Do players and fans of the world, Korean working people and school youth and children as it is taking place again in the DPRK, the cradle of Taekwon-Do.

The platform party was taken by Choe Yong Rim, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, Choe Ryong Hae, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, Kang Nung Su, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Pak Myong Chol, minister of Physical Culture and Sports, Kim Kyong Ho, chairman of the Korean Taekwon-Do Committee, Ryang Man Gil, chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee who doubles as chairman of the organizing committee of the 17th ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships, officials concerned, President Jang Ung and vice presidents of the ITF, Hein Verburgen, president of Sport Accord, Kanji Inoki, president of the Inoki Genom Joint Co., Ltd. of Japan, Han Chun Hui, widow of Choe Hong Hui, former president of the ITF, and members of the federation.

Amid the playing of the song of the festival, teams from various countries and regions entered the venue of the opening ceremony. They included teams from China, Russia, Grenada, South Africa, Gabon, New Zealand, Norway, Nepal, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, the U.S., Moldova, Mongolia, Malaysia, Barbados, Bolivia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Brazil, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Scotland, Singapore, Argentina, Australia, Iran, Ethiopia, Spain, Afghanistan, England, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe, Taipei of China, Hong Kong of China, Canada, France, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Czech Republic, Cambodia, Finland, Colombia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus and Tajikistan.

The DPRK team, the team of Korean Taekwon-Do Federation in Japan and the ranks of referees of the championships entered the venue.

Ryang Man Gil in an opening address called on all the participants to devote positive efforts to the prosperity of Taekwon-Do.

Then, the flag of the championships was hoisted.

Vice-Premier Kang Nung Su, President Jang Ung and President Hein Verburgen made congratulatory addresses.

There was a function of oath-taking and salute at the championships.

The opening ceremony ended with a congratulatory performance given by DPRK artistes and demonstration by Taekwon-Do players.