President Lee Myung-bak invited Korean athletes who took part in the Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games to the presidential office on Thursday.

During a luncheon held at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee expressed gratitude for the athletes’ passion, strong will and fighting spirit and the coaches’ devotion to training the athletes.

He also promised to improve the sporting environment for the handicapped.

Some 100 people attended Thursday’s luncheon, including Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon and President of the Korean Sports Association for the Disabled Yoon Seok-yong.

Team Korea’s 24 athletes finished 18th in the overall medal tally.