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The Olympic Games, a beacon of global unity and athletic excellence, have been intricately linked with OMEGA, the Swiss luxury watchmaker, for nearly a century. This enduring partnership has not only revolutionised sports timekeeping but also solidified OMEGA’s reputation as a pivotal player in the world of precision and innovation.

The story begins with the arrival of a solitary OMEGA timekeeper at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, equipped with 30 precise stopwatches to time 117 events across 14 sports. Each stopwatch was certified to be accurate within one-tenth of a second, a milestone that heralded a new era in sports timekeeping.

With almost a century of technological evolution behind them, OMEGA's advancements have transformed the landscape of sports timekeeping. Today, their timing instruments can measure up to 1/1,000,000th of a second, providing five times more accuracy and a hundred times greater resolution. Beyond the basic measurement of time, OMEGA has developed sophisticated equipment to capture records with unparalleled precision in multiple dimensions.

 

Pictured Left: The original starting pistol. 

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The 1948 Olympic Games in London saw the debut of OMEGA’s ‘Magic Eye’ Photofinish Camera (pictured above). This groundbreaking technology revolutionised the adjudication of running competitions, capturing precise slices of time in a single photograph. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, automatic touch pads were introduced in swimming pools, eliminating the need for human-eye decisions to determine the winners of the swimming events.

OMEGA has also pioneered fairness in race starts. Until 2010, a simple starting pistol triggered all timers simultaneously, potentially giving an advantage to athletes closest to the referee firing the gun. To address this, OMEGA introduced the electronic starting pistol, which uses a light signal that travels faster than sound, ensuring that all athletes start under equal conditions. Furthermore, each starting block is equipped with sensors to precisely trigger the timing mechanism.

As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games rapidly approach, anticipation builds around OMEGA's continued advancements in timing technology. With 329 events across 32 sports, each requiring specialised technology and expertise, OMEGA's role is more significant than ever. The company, which began with one timekeeper and 30 stopwatches, now employs over 530 timekeepers and uses more than 400 tonnes of equipment. As the Olympics push the boundaries of human achievement, OMEGA is poised to continue setting new standards in innovation and precision.

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OMEGA's storied history with the Olympic Games epitomises their unwavering commitment to precision, innovation, and fairness. From their first involvement in 1932 to the upcoming Paris 2024 Games, OMEGA has consistently demonstrated their expertise as more than just a watchmaker—they are the guardians of time for one of the world's most prestigious sporting events. Through continuous technological advancements, OMEGA ensures that athletes' dreams are realised and world records are accurately recorded, no matter how infinitesimal the difference.

OMEGA's contributions extend beyond mere timekeeping. They embody the spirit of the Olympics by pushing the limits of what is possible, inspiring athletes and spectators alike. As we look forward to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, we celebrate OMEGA's legacy of excellence and eagerly anticipate the future innovations that will continue to define the pinnacle of sports timekeeping.

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