Paektusan Prize International Figure Skating Festival 2014
The 23rd Paektusan Prize International Figure Skating Festival opened here on Saturday to celebrate the Day of the Shining Star (birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il).
Present at the opening ceremony were Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop, Ro Tu Chol, officials concerned, sportspersons and other people.
Also on hand were overseas Koreans, the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, diplomatic corps and military attaches corps here and foreign guests.
Figure skaters of the DPRK, Russia, Latvia, Belarus, Italy, the Czech Republic and Serbia entered the venue of the opening ceremony.
Minister of Finance Choe Kwang Jin, chairman of the Figure Skating Association, in his opening address expressed belief that the festival will greatly inspire the Korean people making a leap forward in the drive to building a highly civilized country under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea.
There took place a figure skating demonstration "The sun of Songun will be everlasting".
DPRK players presented colorful numbers such as "Longing is Boundless" and "Ode to the Motherland".
Foreign players who proved successful at international and national contests showed high skills in various numbers.
The audience applauded performers whenever they presented fascinating and graceful rhythms and skilful movements.
KCNA, 15. Febr. 2014
