Olympic chief pledges better support for future competitions

MILAN — Not entirely satisfied with the country's performance at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics this month, Korean Olympic chief Ryu Seung-min pledged better support for his athletes for future competitions. Ryu, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), touched upon the state of training environments and budget issues for Korean Olympians at the delegation's wrap-up press conference at Korea House in Milan on Sunday, the final day of the competition. With Korea's two four-man bobsleigh teams sitting well outside medal contention in the last event for the country, Korea was expected to finish the Olympics with three gold medals, four silver medals and three bronze medals. Korea exceeded both its gold medal total and the overall medal count from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where it grabbed two golds, five silvers and two bronzes. Also, Korea won three medals in snowboard, including a gold by Choi Ga-on in the women's halfpipe, after only winning medals in short track and long track speed skating in Beijing. Ryu described Korea's showing in northern Italy a parti