A Partnership That Stands The Test Of Time
Essential Journal takes a journey through history with OMEGA as it prepares to be the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, a role it has been committed to since 1932.
Words by Jamie McFadden
A name synonymous with precision and innovation, OMEGA has long been revered in the world of horology. Alongside its reputation for creating watches capable of space travel and the endurance of everyday life closer to home, one of its most prestigious accolades is its role as the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games.
This partnership, which has spanned nearly a century, continues to solidify OMEGA’s reputation for excellence, playing an integral part in some of the world’s greatest sporting moments. As OMEGA prepares for its 31st Olympic Games as Official Timekeeper, Essential explores the story of a timeless journey.
OMEGA’s Olympics experience and timekeeping expertise is unrivalled by any other watch company. The story of its journey dates back to 1932 when, for the first time in history, a single watch company was selected as the Official Timekeeper for every event.
Not only a significant moment in OMEGA’s history, but also in the history of sports measurement. One watchmaker was dispatched from Bienne to Los Angeles, equipped with 30 high-precision stopwatches that were accurate to the nearest 1/10th of a second. Following their introduction in 1932, OMEGA was presented with a new challenge in 1936, with the Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which with added complication of snowy events.
As they have within their collections of beautiful wristwatches, OMEGA has continued to push the boundaries of timekeeping technology at the Olympic Games, introducing numerous innovations throughout the decades that have continued to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of measuring athletic performance.
As they head into their 31st Olympic Games as Official Timekeeper, it is evident that OMEGA has no plans to slow the pace on their innovative reputation. One stand out addition to the armoury at Paris 2024 is the Scan ‘O’ Vision Ultimate, the highest resolution of any photo finish camera on the market, capturing 40,000 digital images per second on the finish line of races. It will increase the speed and efficiency of the judge’s decision making, offering maximum clarity.
We will all recall moments throughout history when we have been captivated by the splendour and joy of Olympic successes and records, and we can guarantee that Paris 2024 will provide yet more of those to the history books. Thankfully, with OMEGA’s help, we’ll have those results even quicker.
