Buoyed by South Korea's triumph in the Vancouver Olympics, President Lee Myung-Bak Wednesday pledged active support from his government to nurture winter sports.
"The brilliant Winter Olympics feat proved our country has become a sporting powerhouse and an advanced country," Lee told a lunch with the South Korean athletes led by figure skater Kim Yu-Na.
Lee pledged more investment in winter sports and active government support for Pyeongchang's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, his office said in a statement.
"Your good performance in Vancouver will greatly help Pyeongchang's bid," the president said.
In July 2011 the International Olympic Committee will choose the host for the 2018 event from Pyeongchang, the German city of Munich and Annecy in France.
The resort in northeast South Korea will be making its third bid after losing out to Vancouver this year and the Russian town of Sochi in 2014.
Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-Hyun told tax officials the government would consider offering tax benefits to companies interested in creating teams for currently unpopular sports.
More than 1,000 fans at the airport gave the Olympics squad a rapturous welcome home Tuesday. It finished fifth in the medals table with a record six gold, six silver and two bronze medals.
Kim, dubbed "Queen Yu-Na" in her home country, won gold in the women's figure skating -- setting a new Olympic and all-time record of 228.56 points with flawless performances.
The 19-year-old world champion's remarkable performance this season prompted a boom in figure skating in South Korea, where she has iconic status. But winter sports in general do not have a major following.
Copyright 2010  AFP Global Edition
