OMEGA official timekeepers

1. HIGHLIGHTS FROM OMEGA’s HISTORY OF TIMEKEEPING
Throughout our history as Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, OMEGA has helped to capture some of the most remarkable sporting moments.  With victory coming down to milliseconds, it has been our passion and duty to play a part in this illustrious event. As the Olympic Games have evolved over time, and athletes have become faster and stronger, OMEGA’s own excellence in timekeeping has also continued to grow. 

1932 – The Legacy Begins

1932 was a defining year in the history of sports measurement. For the very first time, a single private company was entrusted with keeping time across all events at the Olympic Games. That honour went to OMEGA, who supplied one timekeeper and 30 high precision chronographs which had all been certified as chronometers by the Observatory at Neuchâtel. In this first occasion as Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, OMEGA was able to capture results to the nearest 10th of a second.  The brand’s expertise was highly appreciated by the officials in Los Angeles and was also invaluable when it came to confirming 17 new World Records. The event was also notable for having the first Olympic Village, as well as the first medal podiums at an Olympic Games.

1948 – All eyes on London

When the Olympic Games came to London in 1948, one of the greatest revolutions in sports timekeeping was unveiled. The first photofinish camera, dubbed the “Magic Eye”, was introduced by OMEGA and enabled timekeepers to pinpoint the exact positions of athletes as they crossed the finish line. Developed by the British Race Finish Recording Company, it could distinguish the difference between gold and silver medal performances with more accuracy than any previous technology. Suddenly, rankings were beyond dispute and machines began to out-perform the capabilities of the human eye. The “Magic Eye” was immediately put to the test in the historic 100 metre final where two Americans, Harrison Dillard and Barney Ewell, fought to an exciting finish. Both men clocked the same time of 10.3 seconds. After consulting the image, the judges named Dillard the winner, and he claimed the gold medal.

1960 – Deep thinking leads to more innovation

A controversial result in 1960 at the Olympic Games in Rome triggered the next big innovation in the pool: automatic touchpads.  1960 was the last Olympic Games timed by OMEGA to be resolved with human-eye decisions. This proved problematic in the final of the men’s 100m freestyle when judges disagreed on who the winner was. Ultimately, the gold medal went to Australia’s John Devitt, while Lance Larson of the USA was perhaps unfairly placed second. In response, OMEGA went on to develop the automatic touchpads at the ends of pools that allow swimmers to stop time with their own hands.  Invented by a Biel-based manufacturer, they first appeared in 1967 at the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg and have been successfully used at the Olympic Games ever since.

1968 – A picture is worth a thousand words

OMEGA sent 45 timekeepers to Mexico City in 1968 along with 8 tonnes of equipment. Included in this large transport was the OMEGA Photosprint, used to film all runners at the end of a race. The device was able to capture the moment that every contestant crossed the finish line on one single photograph. Within a minute after the race, officials had one enlarged, positive image that revealed the official times of each contestant. Yet again, OMEGA had risen to the demands of critical timekeeping and offered a revolutionary new technology. The camera captured 10 World Records at the Estadio Olimpico that year. For the athletes, this was perhaps helped by the high altitude of the location, where the thin air contributed to many great performances.

1984 – A true test for the false start

The Olympic Games that took place in Los Angeles in 1984 were notable for a number of memorable athletic performances including the 4 gold medals won by American Carl Lewis. Out on the track, OMEGA was making its own strides in timekeeping by introducing the first false start detection device. The equipment was extremely sensitive and functioned by measuring the pressure that runners exerted against the starting block. As the athlete launched themselves forward, their reaction time was triggered when their leg exerted 29kg (27kg for women) of pressure. With an allowed reaction time of 0.100 seconds, OMEGA was now able to detect the slightest false start. 

2012 – 2016 – The trusted timekeeping of today
Looking at the Olympic Games today, it is clear to see that OMEGA’s timekeeping has evolved to become a highly-sophisticated system that leaves no result in doubt. In London in 2012, OMEGA introduced three new pieces of “futuristic” equipment including new starting blocks used by sprinters and short-distance runners; the innovative Swimming Show that instantly ranks the top three finishers in the pool; and the high-precision Quantum Timer used in athletics and water sports that has an enhanced resolution of one millionth of a second. Added to this, there are even more devices now being used such as the laser and sound “starting pistol” with its bright red colour, and the OMEGA Scan’O’Vision MYRIA that captures 10,000 frames per second in a photofinish. Over 84 years, our reputation has been cemented by dedication and passion. For the athletes who compete at Rio 2016, every result is now in very safe and experienced hands. 

2. OMEGA AT THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES
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 set and broken, history has been witnessed and legends have been made. No matter the year, the Olympic Games have always delivered a multitude of great moments in time. 
Now, as the world's attention turns to Rio de Janeiro, the brand will assume its duties for the 27th time. Surrounded by the colour and culture of this vibrant city, we will work with the enduring commitment and passion that has sealed our unrivalled reputation.
For an edition of the Olympic Games today, OMEGA sends around 480 tonnes of equipment, miles and miles of cabling and 450 timekeepers. This massive undertaking shows the effort that our brand is willing to exude in order to serve the dedicated athletes who are competing on one of the biggest stages of their lives.
Of course, it is not just these few weeks in which OMEGA gives focus. Throughout our history as Official Timekeeper, we have also been a leading force in researching, developing and mastering the technologies that record every second.
In the pool, we have developed many systems that make victory indisputable. These include the famous touchpads positioned at both ends of the swimming pool, allowing athletes to stop time with their own hands.
Out on the track, OMEGA has been responsible for the creation of the most famous devices used in precision sports timing, among them the Scan’O’Vision MYRIA photofinish cameras, starting blocks, false-start detection technology and high-speed video systems.
These Olympic Games in Brazil promise to be like no other. It is the first time that South America has hosted the largest and most famous multi-sport event in the world and, like everybody, we are expecting an unforgettable occasion. For OMEGA, there is also a true sense of pride. We know that whoever stands on the podiums in these Olympic Games will do so with the most precise knowledge of their medal-winning performance.

3. THE EVOLUTION OF OMEGA TIMEKEEPING
As athletes become faster and stronger, OMEGA has also advanced its own strengths and abilities in the world of Olympic Games timekeeping. Three technologies in particular have seen a great evolution that proves just how far we’ve come.

THE STARTING PISTOL
One of the most enduring images from any Olympic Games is the starting pistol, reminiscent of the revolvers so popular in movies set in the Old West. The problem with the original design was that sound travels slower than light. That meant that the racer closest to the pistol had a slight advantage because they would hear the start signal a fraction of a second before everyone else. And, in the same way, the racer furthest from the pistol would be at the greatest disadvantage. This is a big issue when every millisecond counts.
That’s why OMEGA developed the new electronic starting pistol that was first introduced at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010. This streamlined, bright red device is composed of a flash gun and a sound generation box. It is connected to speakers positioned behind each racer so that everyone hears the start signal at exactly the same time. When the starter presses its trigger, three things happen simultaneously: a sound is “played”, a light flash is emitted and a start pulse is given to the timing device. 
The new device has also been beneficial at airports and stadiums.  Due to increasingly stringent security measures, the classic starting pistol became very difficult to get through screening. This new, futuristic technology poses no such risk.

THE PHOTOFINISH CAMERA
At the Olympic Games in London in 1948, machines began to out-perform humans for timekeeping accuracy. Leading the revolutionary charge was the very first photofinish camera, known as the “Magic Eye”. It produced a continuous image and a recorded speed which could be modulated according to the needs of the sport being practiced. It also worked in tandem with OMEGA timing equipment; four years later, the next generation, the OMEGA Time Recorder, allowed timekeepers to deliver results within hundredths of a second, thus eliminating many controversial decisions.
Today, OMEGA has advanced the capabilities of the photofinish camera to impressive new levels. This year, the Scan'O'Vision MYRIA makes its Olympic Games début. It is the combination of a time detector and a chronograph and can take up to 10,000 digital images per second using a high-tech image-capture device. Improved light sensitivity means that the quality of images is about four times better than previous versions of the photofinish camera and thanks to its compact size it takes less time to assemble and disassemble. 
PHOTOELECTRIC TIMING
In 1948, the same Olympic Games year that the photofinish camera appeared, OMEGA also introduced photoelectric timing for the first time. The technology immediately replaced the limited capabilities of the human eye with a lightning fast electrical current. This beam of light ran back and forth along the finishing line, so that as soon as a runner crossed it, the stopwatches were triggered. Astonishingly, it gave times to the nearest 1/1000th of a second, surpassing all previous devices and rendering the finishing tape redundant. 
More than six decades after the appearance of this ground-breaking technology, the photocell is still used to determine precisely when the competitors cross the finish line. The precision has been improved by infrared beams and the devices are reliable in all weather extremes and temperatures. In 2016, OMEGA will introduce a new pinnacle of excellence with the next generation of photocells in athletics. While two cells have previously been used on each finish line, this has now increased to four. This addition means that more body patterns are able to be detected as an athlete crosses the line and the accuracy is therefore improved in the final moment of the race. 

4. HOW OMEGA TIMES THE 100M ATHLETICS EVENT
Perhaps the most famous and iconic moment at the Olympic Games, the 100m event begins with the firing of the starting pistol. Today, the actual pistol has been replaced by a streamlined device that is composed of a flash gun and sound generation box.   When the trigger is pulled, three things happen at once. A start pulse launches the timing device; a light is emitted; and a sound is generated from each starting block as well as a set of external loudspeakers. The integration of a speaker in the starting block ensures that each athlete hears the start of the race at exactly the same time.  
The first measurement that is provided is the reaction time of the athletes. To do that, OMEGA has developed a highly accurate starting block that detects tiny amounts of pressure. This is also critical for catching a false start if one occurs. 
During the race, the devices also measure wind. In the instance that a record is broken, it can only be officially registered if the wind is blowing at less than 2m per second. This, of course, doesn’t affect the result of the race. 
Finally, two systems are placed on the finish line. The Photocells are called into action as soon as an athlete crosses the line, stopping the time and showing it on TV and on the scoreboard in the stadium. However, the official finish time is always measured by the MYRIA photofinish camera which takes 10,000 images per second. 

5. HOW OMEGA TIMES THE 100M FREESTYLE IN SWIMMING
From the very first moment of the 100m freestyle, OMEGA ensures absolute precision when timing the race. With loudspeakers integrated into every starting block, each competitor hears the starting signal at the exact same time. As the pulse is sounded, special sensors then measure the swimmers’ reaction times as they dive into the water. As they push for victory, their final time is then recorded by the touchpads immersed at the end of each lane. A force of 1.5 – 2.5kg is enough to immediately stop the clock. If touchpad contact is missing or too soft, timekeepers will use OMEGA’s high-speed camera as a back-up system to provide pictures. The camera takes and sends 100 images per second.

6. NEW TIMEKEEPING TECHNOLOGIES AT THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES

OMEGA SCAN’O’VISION MYRIA 

Perhaps the most widely known sports timekeeping device used in athletics is the photofinish camera, the equipment set up at the finish line of sprints, hurdles and other races. Each runner’s image is captured by this device as he or she crosses the finish line and it is this information that the judges use to officially determine the champion of each race. The new OMEGA Scan’O’Vision MYRIA is a combination of a time detector and a chronograph. Its photofinish images are produced using a high-tech image-capture device that records up to 10,000 digital images of one vertical line per second. Improved light sensitivity means that images are of higher quality than with previous versions of the photofinish camera and thanks to its compact size; it takes less time to assemble and disassemble. 

NEW OMEGA PHOTOCELL TECHNOLOGY
Photocells have been an important part of “stopping time” since 1948. They are used to give an instant result at finish-lines and give racers and spectators a precise understanding of the winner’s recorded time. In most recent competitions, two pairs of photo¬cells have emitted beams of light across the finish line that halt time as soon as a competitor crosses. Today, OMEGA proudly introduces the next generation of this vital equipment. Instead of two photocells, there are now four, all integrated into one unit, and positioned on the finish line of the Athletics events. With four photocells in operation, more body patterns are able to be detected as they cross the line, and it will no longer be necessary to move the height of the cells for hurdle races. This means even more accuracy at the moment that matters. 

NEW AND IMPROVED SCOREBOARDS  
The hi-resolution scoreboards that will be used in Rio de Janeiro have been re-designed and are operated by new software that enables them to display not only text and live information, but also animations, athlete pictures and visual imagery. Using modern effects, winners’ names, results and their nation’s flag can be boldly displayed, adding to the drama, thrill and excitement of each event. Not only is there consistency across all events, but the big moments such as records and medal winning performances will be highlighted like never before. A lot of time has been spent testing with different distances and contrasts to ensure visibility is at the highest level possible. It’s a great advancement from the amber and black displays used in the past.

FALSE START DETECTION SYSTEM 
The starting blocks in Athletics have been enhanced with built-in sensors that measure an athletes’ force against the footrest 4,000 times per second. The detection system instantly sends the force measurements to an on-site computer and creates a “force curve” so that the starter can visually analyse the reaction in the event of a false start. This is all possible because of new software and enhanced communication technology between the starting blocks and the false start detection system.

GOLF SCOREBOARDS
As golf makes its return to the Olympic Games after more than a century, OMEGA is introducing a new scoreboard especially for the event. Placed at ground level on four dedicated tees, the scoreboards will be equipped with radar measurement systems. As a player tees off, information will be captured and then displayed to spectators so that they can closely follow the action. Along with the player’s name and current score, the scoreboard will show a live output of the stroke speed, estimated distance and height of the stroke. 

ARCHERY TARGETING SYSTEM
For the first time at the Olympic Games, technology will be used to record scores in archery events. Until now, the judging has been done solely by the human eye using a specialised scope. Now, OMEGA introduces a new target with a built-in scanning system. When the arrow hits the target, two scanners run lengthways and widthways to calculate the arrow’s distance from the centre point. The system has a 0.2mm accuracy which is impossible for the human eye to detect. It’s also fast, delivering results within 1 second from the moment the target is hit.

7. THE ROLE OF THE LAST-LAP BELL IN OMEGA'S HIGH-TECH TIMEKEEPING   
OMEGA will bring its most advanced timekeeping technology to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, from electronic starting pistols to high speed cameras that can measure a thousandth of a second.  But in among the mountain of cables and computers transported to Brazil will be 21 essential pieces of timekeeping equipment, often overlooked and virtually unchanged since the bronze-age: the Olympic last-lap bells.    
Forged, almost entirely by hand at Blondeau's foundry near the town centre of La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss mountains, OMEGA's last-lap bells will be seen- and heard–by millions of people around the world.
At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the last-lap bells will be used to sound out the final push for victory; marking the last laps in the athletics, track & road cycling and mountain bike events. It's an interesting combination; Bronze Age hardware working alongside the most state-of-the-art sports timekeeping technology on Earth, very much in keeping with the spirit of an event that still captivates the modern world, but dates back to the time of ancient Greece.
Though the technicians and engineers who make and maintain OMEGA's cutting-edge timing equipment must keep ahead of rapid changes, little has changed for the bell maker in the digital age. Bells are still, for the most part, made by hand. 50 year old sand from Paris is sieved, tightly packed into a mould and heated to 1200 degrees, to create a bronze bell that chimes as beautifully as it looks. 
Though few people will get close enough to notice, the inside of each last-lap bell is branded with the RIO 2016 logo and encircled with the words: RIO 2016 - GAMES OF THE XXXI OLYMPIAD. Again, this is not achieved by sophisticated laser printing, but is pressed into the bell by hand, using simple lettering tools before firing.
OMEGA has been the Official Olympic Games Timekeeper since 1932, when all events were timed with just 30 stopwatches. Today, it is a very different undertaking, requiring tonnes of equipment and a huge team of highly-trained timekeepers and skilled volunteers.
But some traditions are too rich to die out. Bronze-age technology will once again take its rightful place at the world's biggest sporting event. The OMEGA last-lap bells will ring at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
   
8. SEAMASTER DIVER 300M “RIO 2016” LIMITED EDITION 
Rio de Janeiro is a city full of life. It is the first place in South America to host the Olympic Games and the perfect location for athletes and spectators alike.  Inspired by this dynamic spirit, OMEGA has created the Seamaster Diver 300M “Rio 2016” Limited Edition. 
The timepiece is a combination of watchmaking expertise and unique craftsmanship. Beginning on the city’s famous beaches, we have taken the wave pattern from the mosaic design on Copacabana’s sidewalks and used it as inspiration for a similar style on the watch’s lacquered black dial. 
The uni-directional rotating diving bezel is also black, this time made from black polished ceramic. However, what truly sets this feature apart is the lacquered numbers in red, green, yellow and blue. These represent the exuberance of Rio as well as the five colours of the famous Olympic rings.
Of course, the event itself has been commemorated in exquisite fashion. On the reverse side of the polished and brushed stainless steel case, the screw-in caseback has been stamped with the “Rio 2016” logo and engraved with an individual Limited Edition number.
Only 3016 of these pieces have been produced.
Other features of this timepiece are typical of the iconic OMEGA Seamaster 300M style. These include a date window at 3 o’clock, a helium escape valve at 10 o’clock, and polished facetted skeleton rhodium-plated hands coated in white Super-LumiNova. 
Presented on a stainless steel bracelet, the timepiece is driven by the exclusive OMEGA calibre 2500 and is water resistant up to 30 bar (300 metres / 1000 feet).

9. SEAMASTER BULLHEAD "RIO 2016" LIMITED EDITION
As part of OMEGA's Olympic Games Collection, the Bullhead Rio is a unique celebration of heritage, precision and sporting excellence. At first sight, it is instantly recognisable for its individual style and design. The blue leather strap links directly to the Rio 2016™ logo, and features subtle stitching along each side, coloured yellow, green, red and black to represent the iconic Olympic rings.
This colour theme is continued on the rotating inner-bezel, serving as a meaningful reminder of the unity and harmony that the Olympic rings signify.
The case itself has a true link to history and sport. This particular style was first released in 1969, and was used by rally drivers to time their laps. It's highly appropriate then, that the spirit of speed has now evolved to exemplify OMEGA's continuing association as the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games. 
Like its predecessors, the Bullhead "Rio" also features a white dial, as well as a central chronograph seconds hand, and a 30-minute recorder at 12H. It's interesting to point out, that the name "bullhead" was originally a nickname, coined by watch collectors who admired the shape of the timepiece, and concluded that it indeed looked like the head of a bull. There is no doubt that the qualities of strength and determination will be on show this year.
Built with OMEGA's exclusive Co-Axial calibre 3113, and stamped with the Rio 2016™ logo on the caseback, this is sure to become an instant collector's item.  Before the first race is run, the winning standard in watch-making has already been set

10. SPEEDMASTER MARK II “RIO 2016” 
Inspired by the 1969 model of the original OMEGA Speedmaster Mark II, the polished and brushed stainless steel case is barrel-shaped and has a polished crown and pushers. Beneath a flat scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is a matt black dial featuring a 30-minute recorder at 3 o’clock, a 12-hour recorder at 6 o’clock and a small seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock. The sub-dials are decorated with a bronze ring, 18K yellow gold ring and 925 silver ring respectively – a design that recalls the medals awarded to Olympic Games champions.   

The transparent tachymeter scale on the sapphire crystal is illuminated from beneath by an aluminium ring filled with Super-LumiNova. The varnished white and black hour and minute hands, chronograph seconds hand and hour markers are also coated with Super-LumiNova, making it possible to read the time in a variety of lighting conditions. The Speedmaster Mark II is the first watch in OMEGA’s collection that makes it possible for the wearer to see the tachymeter scale in the dark. 

The screw-in caseback is stamped with the logo of the Rio 2016™ logo and is engraved with “Si14”, “Column Wheel” and the limited edition number of the wristwatch – only 2,016 pieces of this model will be produced. 

The polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet is complete with OMEGA’s patented screw-and-pin design and a foldover rack-and-pusher clasp. The length of the bracelet can be adjusted by releasing the outer clasp and sliding the inner clasp. 

The Speedmaster Mark II “Rio 2016” is powered by the OMEGA calibre 3330 equipped with an Si14 silicon balance spring and a Co-Axial escapement with three levels. The reliability delivered with the combination of these exclusive components is such that your timepiece is offered with a full four-year warranty.  

The Speedmaster Mark II “Rio 2016” is water resistant to 10 bar (100 metres / 330 feet) and is offered in a special presentation box with a certificate of authenticity.