In the year, Marshal Kim Jong Un, supreme leader of the DPRK, watched local men's soccer and women's volleyball matches on the spots, setting forth the important tasks instrumental to radically developing the nation's sports.

He met the athletes who bagged gold metals at the 30th Olympiad, and their coaches and had a photo taken with them. He also provided sports teams with varieties of sports equipment.

The November enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea adopted a decision on setting up the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, which is empowered to give unified guidance to the nation's overall sports activities.

This year witnessed many sports contests, including Paektusan Prize Sports Contest in February, Mangyongdae Prize National Sports Festival in April and Sports Contest for Pochonbo Torch Prize in May-June. In particular, sports enthusiasm soared high with the 12th People's Games as an occasion. The contests produced new domestic, Asian and world's records in many events.

The National Taekwon-do Festival was held to mark the Day of the Sun in April, the National Taekwon-Do Championship for Jongilbong Cup in June and the National Martial Art Championship for "September 10 Prize" in September.

The IAAF-25th Mangyongdae Prize Marathon took place on the occasion of the Day of the Sun (April 15) and the 21st Paektusan Prize International Figure Skating Festival on the occasion of the Day of the Shining Star (February 16).

Meanwhile, mass sports activities and events have been organized this year. Especially, a table-tennis tournament, attended by officials of commissions, ministries and national institutions, is now under way in Pyongyang.

Those sports activities and events helped further develop the nation's sports techniques while fanning up sports enthusiasm among broad sections of people across the country.

This year also witnessed the emergence of modern sports facilities in different parts of the country, including Taekwon-Do Holy Center, Yanggakdo Sports Village, People's Open-air Ice Rink and Skate Park, which will be conducive to the development of the nation's sports and physical training of people, including youth and children.