Seven cities hoping to host the 2014 Winter Olympics are waging an invisible war at the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees.

Opening Sunday, the convention is a rare opportunity for the cities to meet with 60 of 115 International Olympic Committee board members, who will vote for the winner in the committee's general assembly in Guatemala in July next year.

The IOC invited six representatives from each of the seven cities to the association's event, including those from Pyeongchang County of South Korea, Salzburg of Austria and Sochi of Russia.

In his opening address, President Roh Moo-hyun said Olympics have played a great role in helping the Cold War's last frontier to move toward reconciliation and cooperation.

If given a chance, he said the Korean people will unite to do their best to help the Olympics achieve their goal of world peace and harmony.

South Korea wants to use the week-long event to show the world that it is one of the best places to host the Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, four North Korean Olympic officials are attending the convention, including the vice chairman of the North's Olympic committee Song Kwang-ho.