As the Olympic Flame casts its powerful glow over Paris’ River Seine and the sporting world on 26th July, it will mark the beginning of the XXXIII Summer Olympics, and 100 years since the French capital welcomed the world for a festival of sporting excellence. The international multi-sport event has seen many changes and moments of history since its 1924 edition but one constant since 1932 has remained – OMEGA as the official timekeeper.
Entrusted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to measure the time across all events at the Olympic Games - the first single private company to do so - OMEGA’s state-of-the-art, high precision chronographs captured 17 new World Records in Los Angeles thanks to the equipment’s ability to capture results to the nearest 10th of a second. OMEGA’s and the IOC’s partnership had been established and the timepiece manufacturer’s innovations became just as important as the feats of athletes on the track and field.
At the Olympic Winter Games St. Moritz 1948, OMEGA first used the cellular photoelectric ‘eye’, which was able to automatically stop the clock on the finish line of races. At London 1948, the company’s advanced timing equipment worked in tandem with the British Race Finish Recording Co. Ltd’s slit photo-finish camera for close-fought races such as sprints, rowing and cycling.
The 1950s saw OMEGA introduce timepieces that could record results to the nearest hundredth of a second as the Racend Omega Timer showcased fractions of a second below the images of athletes crossing the finish line. As television was refined and a worldwide audience started to enjoy athletics competitions from the comfort of their own homes, OMEGA established the Omegascope in 1961. This allowed the introduction of real time sports reporting on TV by superimposing live times on the bottom of the screen.
Along with timekeeping and the distribution of results, data-handling became another important part of OMEGA’s contribution at athletics events in the mid-1990’s. Acceleration and running speed were measured, giving further in-depth information during events. In 2000, OMEGA’s on-screen graphics made it possible in some sports for TV viewers at home to see a virtual record line that indicates how close the competitors are to world records.
OMEGA’S SPORTING EQUIPMENT
Today, OMEGA’s timekeeping excellence has been extended to other precision equipment and installations. The Electronic Starting Pistol eliminated the inequality of traditional pistols that disadvantaged competitors in the furthest lanes as they heard the shot a fraction later than those in the closest lanes. The infamous false start is thanks to starting blocks that feature OMEGA’s built-in sensors that measure an athlete’s force against the footrest 4,000 times per second. The detection system instantly sends the force measurements to an on-site computer so that the starter can visually see any false start.
Arguably the brand’s most widely known sports timekeeping device is the OMEGA Scan’O’Vision MYRIA – the photo-finish. A combination of a time detector and a chronograph, photo-finish images are produced using a high-tech image-capture device that records up to 10,000 high-quality digital images per second, assisting judges in deciding the champion of the race.
TIMEPIECES FOR ATHLETES
While accuracy is the most important detail for any competitor and indeed any timepiece owner, OMEGA’s collection watches for athletes showcase style and substance, regardless of those going for a Sunday run or lining up at the 100 metres track in the Stade de France. The Speedmaster Chronoscope takes inspiration from the 1940s. The dial is printed with three timing scales to determine speed, distance and your heart rate. The vintage look is produced in stainless steel, with a silvery dial and blackened subdials, as well as a black leather strap with a red interior.
For those who seek sporting comfort, choose the 55-gram Seamaster Aqua Terra ‘Ultra Light’ timepiece. Composed of the same lightweight gamma titanium used in the aeronautical industry, the watch features a sand-blasted titanium dial and OMEGA’s first-ever titanium movement on the inside. However, if you want a simple, classic and sleek look, select the Seamaster Aqua Terra. Exuding casual sophistication and a sporty spirit, the model includes a Co-Axial Master Chronometer movement for the highest standard of precision and magnetic resistance as well as built in stainless steel, coming with a unique green dial and a teak pattern.
Paris 2024 will see greatness achieved and records broken. OMEGA will be on hand with precision timing on which you can depend.
