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OMEGA TO CONTINUE AS OFFICIAL OLYMPIC TIMEKEEPER
OMEGA TO CONTINUE AS OFFICIAL
OLYMPIC TIMEKEEPER
In Los Angeles in 1932, OMEGA became the first
company to be entrusted with the timing of the Olympic Games. It marked the
beginning of OMEGA’s long partnership with the International Olympic Committee
(IOC).
In 1932, thirty chronograph watches were used to
time the events. At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, OMEGA’s commitment had
evolved into some 420 tonnes of equipment used by 450 timekeeping and data
handling professionals and more than a thousand specially trained local
volunteers.
The partnership continues
OMEGA’s Olympic legacy will continue well into the future.
OMEGA and its parent company, the Swatch Group, have signed an agreement
with the IOC which ensures that the company will carry on its Olympic role
through the 2020 Olympic Games. In addition to timing every Olympic event, OMEGA
is also responsible for data handling, the display of the results at the venues,
and the distribution of the results to the world’s media. The announcement was
made at a press conference on 25 September 2009 at the Olympic Museum in
Lausanne by IOC President Jacques Rogge, Nicolas Hayek, Chairman of the Swatch
Group, Nick Hayek Jr, CEO of the Swatch Group and Stephen Urquhart, President of
OMEGA.
Nicolas Hayek was enthusiastic in his praise of the partnership saying,
“Historically, it has been fantastic for all of us in the Swatch Group to work
with the outstanding and efficient IOC team at venues all over the world. We are
looking forward to joining them in Vancouver and London and all the cities that
follow.”
Nick Hayek Jr. talked about the Games’ ability to generate drama and
passion. “When it comes to positive emotions, what can beat the Olympic Games?”
he said. “The whole world – young and old, rich and poor – is fascinated by the
many magic moments only the Olympic Games can deliver.”
Jacques Rogge said, “OMEGA’s devotion to the development of sports timekeeping, its commitment to athletes and its dedication to the Olympic Movement are a source of enormous confidence for the IOC and the organisers of the Olympic Games.”
Reflecting on his company’s Olympic legacy, OMEGA President Urquhart
commented, “OMEGA is proud to continue its long-standing association with the
IOC and the world’s premium sporting event. Since 1932 the Olympic Games have
provided us with a unique platform to convey our message of precision, quality
and innovation in a prestigious and fitting environment.”
A piece of Olympic history
Four of the original chronographs used to time the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic
Games are in the OMEGA Museum in Bienne, Switzerland. To commemorate the
occasion of the extension of his company’s contract with the IOC, Stephen
Urquhart presented one of these pocket watch chronographs to Jacques
Rogge.
At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games which begin on February 12th,
OMEGA will be serving as Official Olympic Timekeeper for the 24th time.