It’s not Do Dam Jeong’s first rodeo.

The Special Olympics athlete competed in speed skating during the World Games in 2013, held in her home country of South Korea.

Jeong will lace up again soon to take to the ice in Los Angeles, where the World Games start Saturday.

She and her teammates, coaches and staff – more than 130 visitors – landed in the country Tuesday and traveled to UC Irvine, where they are staying during their time in Orange County.

On Wednesday, the delegation spent the first full day in Irvine, the city hosting the group through Friday.

Midday, the athletes were welcomed with a parade in their honor at the Spectrum Center, led by the Dodream Samulnori Team, a Korean drum corp from Irvine.

Each athlete was given a gift card to use at the center. Some rode the center’s Giant Wheel and savored ice cream.

“They are learning and experiencing the culture and customs of the citizens of Irvine,” said Dong Jeun Song, national director of Special Olympics Korea, via an interpreter.

Later in the day, the city’s Host Town Committee treated the delegation, city officials, dignitaries and sponsors of the committee to dinner at Bommer Canyon.

Attendees, many wearing Special Olympics garb and red and blue bandanas around their necks, sat together at long wooden picnic tables covered in red and white tablecloths.

The Western-themed event included live country music and cowboy roping. Dave Thornbury, a trick roper from Agoura, gently looped his lasso around Jeong, who smiled, then wriggled away.

Jeong said she has trained to do her best in the competition, but is also looking forward to the games because she plans to meet new friends from all over the world.

“I’m nervous and excited,” she said.

Smoke from the barbecue wafted in the light breeze, which rustled the leaves of the trees shading the eating area.

“The city is beautiful,” Song said. “The citizens are very kind. The athletes feel like they are at home.”
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/irvine-673606-jeong-olympics.html