S. Korean leader vows to improve winter game facilities

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-03 17:29

SEOUL - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday promised to support winter sports by boosting infrastructure following South Korea's record-setting performance at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

"Yu In-chon, our minister of culture, sports and tourism, is working extremely hard to improve the country's winter sports infrastructure and training facilities for sports played on both ice and snow," Lee said at a luncheon meeting held at the Chung Wa Dae presidential office with all the South Korean Olympic athletes, coaches and officials, presidential spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye said.

"I will keenly follow to the development," Lee added.

Lee praised the athletes for their hard work that resulted in outstanding performances despite the country's relatively poor training conditions, saying the country's record fifth place in medals list with six gold, six silver and two bronze medals will substantially boost the country's chances of winning the bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in the city of PyeongChang.