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SEATTLE - Nov. 17, 2009 - Marketing ideas agency WONGDOODY today introduced a new Alaska Airlines campaign, dubbed "Follow Apolo," promoting the company's sponsorship of world champion speed skater Apolo Ohno as he strives for gold in February 2010.  The "Dancing With The Stars" winner and celebrated skater officially qualified to compete for the United States last month in Marquette, Mich.

This new campaign will track Ohno's training efforts through the late fall and winter leading up to the games.  The centerpiece of the campaign is the new "Follow Apolo" Web site (www.followapolo.com), which also will be branded on one of Alaska Airlines' planes.  The overall goal of the effort is to increase traffic to the main Alaska Airlines site (www.alaskaair.com) and boost brand awareness.  Fans can sign up on www.followapolo.com to receive updates on his training and send questions to Ohno.

Ohno arrived in Seattle this morning on the branded plane to kick off the campaign.  A team of local youth speed skaters aspiring to follow in Ohno's path accompanied him.  The skaters are members of Pattison's Team Extreme and train at Pattison's West Skating Center in Federal Way, Wash., where Ohno trained as a teen.

"When creating this campaign, we saw that Apolo was an ideal match with the Alaska Airlines brand.  He already has a strong fan base and his dedication to excellence fits right in line with Alaska Airline's commitment to its customers," said Tracy Wong, WONGDOODY's executive creative director.

Additional components to the effort include communication through Alaska Airline's in-flight magazine, online banner advertising and outdoor executions running now through February.  Non-traditional media support in December and January includes street team distribution in cities around the Pacific Northwest of giveaways including copies of Ohno's signature bandanas and press-on faux facial hair mimicking Ohno's own.

A native of the Seattle area, Ohno began his short-track speed-skating career at age 14 in Seattle and Vancouver.  From there, he went on to become the youngest skater to win a World Cup event title in December 1999.  Ohno has since won 11 national champion, 18 world championships and five Olympic medals.

About WONGDOODY
WONGDOODY is an independently owned full-service marketing ideas agency with offices in Seattle and Los Angeles. Clients include Alaska Airlines, Alpine Electronics, Autodesk, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, T-Mobile and the Washington State Department of Health. WONGDOODY has 134 employees and $166 million in billings.

Media Contact:
Connie Sung
WONGDOODY
(310) 280-7963
connie.sung@wongdoody.com