The contest is an annual event to celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.

It will see the competition in basketball, volleyball, table tennis, tennis, badminton, Taekwon-Do and group running.

Present at the ceremony were Kim Yong Jin, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Ri Yong Su, department director of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, officials of ministries, national institutions and relevant fields, players and working people in the city.

Hyon Sang Ju, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, made an opening address.