An opening ceremony was held at Kim Il Sung Stadium.

Present there were Kwak Pom Gi, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, officials concerned, sports persons and Pyongyangites.

Taking part in it were players from more than 10 countries and regions including Ukraine, Italy, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia.

Ri Jong Mu, minister of Physical Culture and Sports, expressed belief that the Mangyongdae Prize Marathon, a traditional event marking the Day of the Sun, will contribute to bolstering sports exchange among countries and jointly developing the technique of marathon.

The ceremony was followed by marathon event.

More than 600 players took part in it.

Taking the top were Ethiopian male player Negassa Ketema Bekele, DPRK female player Kim Mi Kyong, second were Ukrainian male player Matviichuk Oleksandr and DPRK female player Kim Hye Kyong and third were Rwandan male player Mvuyekure Jean Pierre and Ethiopian female player Biru Meseret Mengistu.