AP
Kim Dong-sung

South Korean companies and internet websites have begun a campaign to collect funds to award Olympic short-track skater Kim Dong-sung a cash prize.

Kim is expected to get a hero's welcome when he returns home from the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games.

After initially winning the 1,500 meter race, Kim was disqualified when a judge ruled he had blocked American rival Apolo Anton Ohno. South Korean officials protested what they believed to be a misjudgment. However, Olympic officials denied their appeal and awarded the gold medal to Ohno.

The incident has made Kim a hero in his homeland, where many believe he was robbed of his gold medal.

The Korean Skating Union says it will give Kim $10,000. Private businesses also are donating money to add to the award.

The controversy has stirred anti-American sentiment among South Koreans. Thousands of Kim supporters sent angry emails to the U.S. Olympic Committee, causing its server to briefly shut down.

Kim Dong-sung won a gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic games.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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