By Duncan Mackay in Vancouver

March 2 - South Korea's outstanding performance in the Olympics here, including the gold medal for figure skater Kim Yu-Na (pictured centre), has been a massive boost for Pyeongchang's bid to host the 2018 Games, the country's leading official has claimed.


Kim was South Korea's outstanding performer as the team finished fifth overall at the Games with 14 medals, six of them gold.

Park Yong-sung, the President of the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC), said: "Our achievements in Vancouver will definitely benefit us in our bid to host the Olympics.

"Compared to the past, we came in fifth place this time with great results from different events which will certainly give us a boost to host the Winter Games."

South Korea's team arrived home to a massive welcome today at Seoul's Incheon airport, where hundreds of fans greeted Kim and the team's other gold medallists, including speed skating gold medallist Lee Seung-Hoon.

Park said: "Before we participated in these Olympic Games we relied only on short track skating for winning gold medals, but each athlete in different events like speed skating and figure skating did their best."

Hundreds jammed the arrivals hall in Seoul, many staking out a spot hours earlier and holding banners, South Korean flags and flowers.

"We're proud of you, Team Korea, for cementing Korea's status in the world. Welcome back!" read one banner.

Schoolgirls broke out into shrieks as Kim came through the security doors bearing a South Korean flag, still dressed in her white national uniform.

After celebrating together at the national training centre, the athletes planned to have lunch tomorrow (Wednesday) with President Lee Myung-bak, who called the Olympic team "a source of pride" for all South Koreans.

Kim, who is due to compete at the World Championships in Turin next month, is expected to be given a leading role in Pyeongchang's bid to host the Olympics as they face rivals Annecy and Munich.

She said:  "I hope Korea can host the Winter Olympics so more support from the people and opportunities would be available for Korean athletes to participate in winter sports events."

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