The contest will be held in Pyongyang, Phyongsong, Sariwon and Hamhung cities from January to August, with attendance of more than 10,000 school youths and children who proved successful at city, county and provincial games.

Divided into groups of senior and junior middle schools and primary schools, its participants will compete in 17 events including basketball, volleyball, table tennis, Taekwon-do, ssirum (Korean wrestling), swimming and speed skating.

Present at the opening ceremony were Kim Il Guk, minister of Physical Culture and Sports, Kim Kyong Ho, chairman of the Korean Taekwon-Do Committee, officials concerned and officials of the youth league and school youth and children.

Jon Yong Nam, first secretary of the Central Committee of the youth league, said in his opening speech that the contest would serve as an important occasion in training promising reserve sportspersons and rapidly developing the general sporting skills of the country.