The congress is held barely 10 weeks after the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

In today's society, sport increasingly finds itself in competition with a plethora of leisure activities, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said in his message to the congress.

"It is up to us to make sport more attractive; help clubs to revive young people's interest in physical activity, and make older people more aware of the benefits of sport," he added.

This is the second time that the World Sport for All Congress is held in Asia, the first being in Seoul, South Korea in 1996, President of Olympic Council of Malaysia Imran said at the opening ceremony.

The main theme of the congress is "Sport for All - for life" with the five sub-themes. Fifteen well-known speakers have been invited to speak on the 20 topics.