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1st International Martial Art Games Open

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

    Pyongyang, September 15 (KCNA) -- The first International Martial Art Games opened with splendour in Pyongyang today. At least 400 practitioners and delegates from more than 40 countries will compete in the games. The games will offer an important occasion in promoting the friendship and solidarity among countries, nations and martial art practitioners and prove to be a grand assembly for exchanging skills among them. The games will include competitions in Korea's orthodox martial art Taekwon-do, martial arts of other countries and nations and demonstration matches.
    Jang Ung, president of the International Taekwon-do Federation who is chairman of the International Martial Art Games Committee, made an address which was followed by the hoisting of the flag of the games.
    Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, in his congratulatory address said that the first historic international martial art games be held in the DPRK would greatly please and encourage the people of the DPRK in their efforts to achieve national reunification and build a great prosperous powerful socialist nation.
    He expressed belief that the games would prove successful in line with the idea of independence, peace, friendship and solidarity. The DPRK will extend positive support and solidarity to the games and strengthen friendship and solidarity with the martial art practitioners and progressive people of the world, he concluded.
    Then the floor was taken by Mac Harb, president of IMAG.
    The first flame of the martial art games was lit in Pyongyang and the curtain of the games went up here, he said, adding that this would offer an important occasion in developing martial art.
    The IMAGC will respect the noble idea of international martial art and exert all its efforts to strengthen and develop it, he added. Present at the ceremony were Mun Jae Dok, chairman of the Korean Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, Hwang Pong Yong, chairman of the Korean Martial Art Federation who is chairman of the Korean Taekwon-do Committee, Jong Jae Hun, secretary general of the International Martial Art Games Committee who is chairman of the organizing committee of the first International Martial Art Games, officials concerned, diplomatic envoys of different countries here, practitioners and delegates from various countries and regions, guests of honor, overseas Koreans and foreigners staying in the DPRK.