The sports contest takes place on the occasion of the birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il.

During the period of the contest 8 sports events including basketball, volleyball, table tennis and ice hockey will take place in Pyongyang, Samjiyon and other places.

Present at the opening ceremony were Ro Tu Chol, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Ri Yong Su, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, officials in the sports field, sportspersons and people in the city.

Ri Jong Mu, minister of Physical Culture and Sports, made an opening address.

The opening ceremony was followed by a men's basketball match between the Ryongnamsan Sports Team and the Kigwancha Sports Team.