PM Lee asks U.S. Olympic chief for help in getting Trump to visit PyeongChang

OLYMPIA, Greece, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon met with U.S. Olympic Committee Chairman Larry Probst on Tuesday and asked for help in getting U.S. President Donald Trump to visit South Korea for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, officials said. During their meeting held in the Greek city of Olympia ahead of a ceremony to light the torch for the PyeongChang Games, Lee said he hopes Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will visit the South Korean alpine city during the Olympics. Probst said he could not make any promises, but that he would make an effort to that end, according to the officials. Lee also congratulated Probst on the U.S. winning the right to host the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, saying the 1984 LA Games served as a chance for South Korean sports to debut on the world stage and helped Seoul successfully host the 1988 Games. Probst was also quoted as telling Lee that he will make every effort to help reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula so as to make PyeongChang an Olympics of peace. Lee also met with International Olympic Committee Chairman Thomas Bach and assured him that South Korea is doing its best to make PyeongChang a perfect Olympics. "Concerns, big and small, arise in the course of preparations for the Olympics, and we really appreciate that Chairman Bach keeps sending a message to the entire world that PyeongChang will be a safe and peaceful Olympics," Lee was quoted as saying. Bach said that he discussed the preparations for PyeongChang with various sports organizations and sports leaders, and all of them told him that South Korea is making good progress and they have 100 percent trust in the efforts of South Korea's government and people, according to officials. Bach also said that he's trying through various channels to have North Korea participate in the Games. He added that the IOC is studying technical measures to provide the North with an opportunity to take part in PyeongChang. Lee asked for the IOC's help in increasing the number of South Korean members of the organization so the country can make greater contributions to the committee. Bach said in response he will try to help, according to officials. Lee also met with the leaders of the National Olympic Committees of upcoming Olympics in East Asia, and asked for their support. Tokyo is the host of the 2020 Summer Games, while Beijing will stage the 2022 Winter Olympics. "To have a successful relay of hosting the Olympic Games in PyeongChang, Tokyo and Beijing, trilateral cooperation is important," Lee said during a meeting with Chinese Olympic Committee Vice President Yu Zaiqing. "I also hope Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan as well as many Chinese tourists will visit South Korea for the PyeongChang Games." Yu agreed to the idea of cooperation and said he will deliver Lee's message to Xi. In a meeting with Tsunekazu Takeda, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Lee requested Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to PyeongChang. He also proposed a figure skating gala exhibition featuring former stars from the two countries. "It would be nice if Kim Yu-na and Mao Asda performed at the gala during the PyeongChang Games," he said. "The two countries co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup successfully, and using that experience, let's encourage people to visit the PyeongChang Winter Games and the Tokyo Summer Games." Takeda responded that he firmly believes in the success of the PyeongChang Olympics and Japan will give its utmost support. Lee also met with French Olympic Committee chief Denis Masseglia and asked for French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to South Korea during the Feb. 9-25 event. kdon@yna.co.kr (END)