Omega Watches and the Olympics

Omega is the official timekeeper of the 2008The emergence of microelectronics brought about
Olympics in Beijing, China. It only makes sensea revolutionary breakthrough for the timing of
that Omega watches keep track of the times insports. In particular, the advent of computers and
the Olympics, as Omega invented the firstsoftware equipped sports timers with more
stopwatch ever in 1898. In 1948, Omega alsoprecise and perfected functions. In addition to
created the world's first photo-finish camera. Evenbeing shown on the scoreboard, it was a very big
the Swim-O-Matic touch pads at the Mexico Citydeal when athletes' times could also be shown by
1968 Olympic Games were made by Omega. Asvideo and used for radio and television.
Omega keeps progressing the way the OlympicsBy the year 1972, Omega and Longines
can enhance timekeeping, they continue to be theco-founded the Swiss Timing Company, which
official timekeeper for the Summer Games.focus in the manufacture of timers for the
Over many different time periods, the technologyOlympic and other sporting events. Interestingly in
used to time events at the world Olympic Gamesthe same year as the Swiss Timing company
have gone through the a variety of stages whichwas founded, the Munich Olympics were held.
include: manual timing, electro-mechanical timing,These were the first Games to introduce the
electronic-quartz timing and the broadcasting ofgeodimeter and electronic timers with 1
live results. Timekeeper sponsors throughout the1000th-second accuracy.
modern Olympic Games include Longines, Heuer,At the 2008 Olympic Games, Omega will be
Omega, Seiko, and Swatch.timekeeping again, and, just as important, data
During the 1896 Athens Olympic games, a manualhandling. They will be presiding over 302 events in
chronograph by Longines became the official28 different sports at 37 far apart venues,
timekeeper. It wasn't until 1932 when Omegaprincipally at the already famed "Bird's Nest" main
became a sponsor and the official supplier of timestadium in Beijing itself. Omega will be deploying
for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and450 on-site technicians to handle over 450 tons
continued until 1964. Seiko, one of the earlyof equipment, to service 70 scoreboards for the
companies to explore quartz movementpublic's view, and 322 sport-specific subsidiary
technology, became the official timekeeper forscoreboards, involving more than 175 km of
the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964. As well ascables and optical fiber. Omega has proved that it
ending the monopoly of Swiss timekeepers at thehas the capabilities to do a great job timekeeping
Olympic Games, Seiko's designation bore witnessat the Olympics, and it sounds like they will be up
to the importance of quartz timing technology.to the task again.