Special Olympian featured in Coke commercial during Olympics

Alex Darlington

From The Wanatchee, Wash., World:

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. — Special Olympian Alex Darlington ranks right up there with Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci, Jean-Claude Killy and Wyomia Tyus.

Darlington, 22, of Leavenworth, can be seen about four times a day on national television with those historic World Olympic medal winners in a Coca-Cola commercial that will air throughout NBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics. The ad, created by the Leo Burnett advertising company of Chicago, will be shown 72 times on national television during the games. The 30-second commercial titled "Ceremony" shows numerous Olympic and Special Olympic winners receiving their medals over the 80 years that Coca-Cola has been a sponsor of the games.

"He's only on for an instant, but you know it's him. He's the only one without a shirt," said Alex's mother, Barb Darlington.

Alex is seen receiving a gold medal for the 50-meter backstroke during the 2007 Special Summer Olympics at Fort Lewis. He has Down syndrome, a genetic chromosome disorder often involving mental retardation.

"He is so excited. So many people have come up to him and said, 'I saw you on TV,' " his mother said.

"Everybody is talking about it," said Nalda Bendowsky, director of nursing at Mountain Meadows Assisted Living in Leavenworth, where Alex works as a busboy,
dishwasher and window washer. "I don't know who's seen it, but we've all heard about it and we're excited for him. He's proud of everything he does, and we're so proud of him. He's part of our heart and soul."

"Ceremony" is one of three ads Coca-Cola produced to run during the Olympic Games. It first ran during the opening ceremonies Friday and will continue to run three or four times a day during NBC's television coverage of the games, which continue until Aug. 24.

The ad includes a montage of historic and more recent film clips and photos of athletes receiving their Olympic medals. This is the first ad in which athletes from Special Olympics Games are featured along with winners of Summer and Winter Olympics, according to the company.