On 26 occasions since 1932, OMEGA has fulfilled the prestigious role of Official Timekeeper at the Olympic Games. Under our watchful eye, records have been broken, history witnessed and legends made. In Rio, we assume our duties for the 27th time.
NEW OMEGA TIMEKEEPING TECHNOLOGIES AT RIO
When the difference between gold and silver comes down to ever decreasing margins, the timekeeper, must always stay ahead of the game. At OMEGA we have been responsible for many of the groundbreaking innovations in timekeeping technology.
The latest generation of photocells use not two, but four cells, to better detect body patterns and give greater accuracy.
SCAN 'O' VISION MYRIA
OMEGA's new photofinish camera, the Scan’O’Vision MYRIA, which makes its Olympic Games début in Rio, can take up to 10,000 digital images per second.
NEW AND IMPROVED SCOREBOARDS
OMEGA's redesigned hi-resolution scoreboards are now operated by new software which enables them to display not only text and live information, but also animations, pictures and visual imagery.
GOLF SCOREBOARDS
Radar measurement systems allow OMEGA's new golf scoreboards to display the height, speed and estimated distance of every stroke.
FALSE START DETECTION SYSTEM
The starting blocks have been enhanced with built-in sensors that measure force against the footrest 4,000 times per second. An on-site computer allows the starting official to visually analyse false starts.
ARCHERY TARGETING SYSTEM
When the arrow hits the target, two scanners calculate its position with 0.2mm accuracy, which is impossible for the human eye to match.
HOW OMEGA TIMES THE 100M ATHLETICS EVENT
The race may be over in seconds, but OMEGA has spent many hours perfecting the technology. From the starting blocks to the photofinish camera, everything is fine-tuned for precision.
HOW OMEGA TIMES THE 100M FREESTYLE SWIMMING
From the moment a swimmer's feet leave the starting block, to the final push of the touchpad, every microsecond is measured by OMEGA's state-of-the-art technology.
"… As athletes become faster and stronger, OMEGA timekeeping has advanced its own strengths and abilities…"
OMEGA IN RIO
480 ON-SITE PROFESSIONALS
450 TONS OF EQUIPMENT
200KM OF CABLES AND OPTICAL FIBRE
850 TRAINED VOLUNTEERS
79 PUBLIC SCOREBOARDS
335 SPORT SPECIFIC SCOREBOARDS
THE LAST-LAP BELLS: OMEGA'S BRONZE-AGE TECH
Not every piece of timekeeping equipment is cutting edge. OMEGA's bells, which are used to signal the final lap in multi-lap athletics races, have been virtually unchanged for centuries.
HERITAGE
A TIMELESS LEGACY
In 1932, one OMEGA watchmaker arrived at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles with 30 split-second chronographs. Today, a team of 480 timekeepers is supported by 450 tons of equipment. And the goal remains the same: deliver flawless timing to the world’s best athletes.