Cover Omega’s starting pistol
Omega’s starting pistol
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Tatler GMT visits Swiss Timing in Bern, Switzerland, to discover Omega’s prowess as the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games
As the Official Timekeeper of Paris 2024 Olympics, Omega has a crucial role in ensuring the Games’ success—after all, 1/10th of a second could be the difference between gold and silver.
When the partnership commenced at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1932, Omega brought only 30 chronographs to time all events. Today, it has, among many others, a state-of-the-art chip placed on a sprinter to track all essential performance data, from split times to speed, in real-time.
Read more: Omega begins the countdown to Olympic Games Paris 2024
It all began with one timekeeping instrument: the Omega split-seconds chronograph certified by the Neuchâtel Observatory for chronometric precision, and the first 56 official chronograph of the Olympic Games. Accurate to 1/10th of a second, 30 pieces were deployed to the Games in 1932.
Above The Omega
split-seconds chronograph at the Olympic Games in 1932
The Omega split-seconds chronograph at the Olympic Games in 1932
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In 1952, Omega won the prestigious Croix du Mérite Olympique for the Racend Timer that showed fractions of a second below the images of the athletes crossing the finish line. Official times were now recorded to the nearest 100th of a second. In 1964, the Omegascope made its debut in providing the athletes’ times that appear at the bottom of the screen on live television.
A controversial judgment in the men’s 100m freestyle in Rome in 1960 prompted the International Swimming Federation to contact Omega to come up with a solution to avoid such a dispute in the future.
That was how the pool touchpad came to be, which the swimmers touch to stop timing at the end of the race. It remains the only sport where the athletes time themselves
Above The Omega Racend Timer
The Omega Racend Timer
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The following years saw rapid technological development not just in timekeeping and the distribution of results, but also in the variety of data that could be collected, like speed and acceleration.
Timekeeping ability has also grown significantly more sophisticated, with instruments that can measure up to a millisecond. Although the title is Official Timekeeper, Omega today is akin to a sophisticated information powerhouse that also provides athletes’ performance data.
And nowhere is this more evident than in track-and-field, one of the more challenging sports for timekeeping.
Above Olympian athlete Dalilah Muhammad launching into action
Olympian athlete Dalilah Muhammad launching into action
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Nestled amidst the serene mountains of Jura is Swiss Timing, a Swatch Group company responsible for developing solutions in sports timekeeping. It is here that Omega continues to burnish its reputation in this department, not just for the Olympics, but also for individual sporting events like golf and alpine skiing.
However, it is at the Olympics where its contributions are the most glorious, as evidenced by its many accomplishments. Our visit to the facility provides an intimate glimpse into its unique ability and instruments that will be utilised at Paris 2024.
Our first stop is a mock running lane where we get to test out Omega’s state-of-the-art starting pistol. Emitting a light flash and sound when the trigger is pulled, a similar action also activates the start pulse to the timing device. The equipment is also paired with the false start detection fitted inside the starting block. The sensors measure each runner’s reaction time, defined as the interval between the sound of the pistol and the athlete’s response. If the time measured is less than the time in which a person can possibly react to the sound of the starter’s gun, it means the athlete has “jumped the gun”; hence, a false start.
Above The starting block is fitted with the false start detection
The starting block is fitted with the false start detection
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As if that wasn’t enough, Omega has even developed the Photo Start camera to record all lanes at the 100m and 110m starting positions. The start of each race is captured, frame by frame, to spot any movement from the top of an athlete’s body that may not be detected by the false start system.
At the finish line, several cameras are usually in position to obtain, as accurately as possible, the results of a race. The most notable camera is the Omega Scan’O’Vision Myria. A combination of time detector and chronograph, it can capture up to 10,000 digital images per second. The photo-finish images indicate the time that separates the runners as they cross the finish line.
Above The Omega photocells
The Omega photocells
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We are then ushered into a room for a close encounter with the Real-Time Tracking System (RTTS). Athletes now wear a 16g high-tech chip inserted in their start numbers to record their split time and current speed; these data are transmitted onto stadium screens, allowing for a more immersive experience when watching a race, while also advocating greater transparency. Live rankings are presented and go up and down depending on the athletes’ positions.
Spectators and viewers at home get to see how their favourite athletes perform during the race, not just its outcome. The system was used at Athletissima Lausanne in 2019 where Noah Lyles emerged triumphant in the 200m race. It was able to identify that Lyles only reached his top speed at 60m, but compared to his competitors, he decelerated the least before the finish line. Coaches and athletes can use such data to further develop the latter’s capability.
Read more: 5 of the most groundbreaking events in Olympic history
Above Data on speed and distance generated by the Real-Time Tracking System
Data on speed and distance generated by the Real-Time Tracking System
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We weren’t kidding when we said that Omega is an information powerhouse of the Olympic Games, one of the most watched sporting events in the world. It works closely with broadcasters to provide a wealth of data, not just final race results, but everything from athletes’ biographies and career accomplishments to 3D animations.
Data are constantly being fed into the Commentator Information System and the Media Information System, which the media can access for their reporting assignments. Having inhabited the role for over 90 years, Omega’s involvement goes far deeper than meets the eye. More than fulfilling its role as the Official Timekeeper, it actually changes the game. In a field where every millionth of a second counts, that sort of can-do spirit is only fitting.
Above Virtual data for television
Virtual data for television
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Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
