Omega Watches and the 2008 Olympics - A Record Relationship

I'm sure you've seen the prominent place Omega Watches at the Olympics in Beijing, China. Omega is the official timekeeper for the 2008 Olympics. This is the 23rd time that Omega has held this position the first of which was in the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. At that time, one technician used 30 stopwatches. At the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, watchmaker Paul-Louis Guignard took 185 chronographs, which fit into one suitcase. With the rapid acceleration of timing technology the 2008 Olympic games figures to be the most reliable and accurate in the history of the Olympics. We already saw the accuracy of this technology, specifically Omega's Touch Pad systems, as Michael Phelps when for his record straight eight gold medals.

At the Beijing Olympic games, Omega is utilizing 109 miles of cables and over 400 tons of timing equipment. Digital photo timing equipment, called Scan O'Vison, will be used for the sprints, hurdles, and medium length races. Omega is also integrating GPS transponders into their timing systems for sailing, rowing and marathon competitions. Given the sophistication of Omega's timing equipment, results down to 2,000thof a second are now being reported. This is quite a department from the 1954 Olympics where results in the nearest 100th of a second recorded and in the 1932 Olympics where results were only reported to the nearest 10th of a second. Swiss timing technology then has increased the validity and reliably of newly established World Records allowing for a more pure measure of an athlete's true ability by dramatically reducing measurement error. There is no doubt the timing technology will continue to improve and thus allow for greater precision and accuracy in future Olympic Games and World Championships.

Omega is part of the Swatch Group, which is the world's largest watchmaker. For over 50 years Omega has been the premier Swiss watch for active people, as it is known for its durability, precision, and style. It was also the first watch used by Astronauts on the Moon. Given its involvement and global exposure as the official timekeeper of the 2008 Olympics, Omega expects to dramatically increase its consumer watch sales. Specifically, the Seamaster and Timeless watch series are expected to exceed sales expectations. One might guess this is primarily because consumers want their own small piece of the magic of the 2008 Olympic Games.

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Omega Watches and the 2008 Olympics - A Record Relationship