You Won't Believe How OMEGA Is Revolutionizing Olympic Timekeeping In Paris 2024
4 min read
We're witnessing some stellar moments at Paris Olympics 2024 and one name stands out in the realm of precision timekeeping: OMEGA. For an astounding 31st time since 1932, this Swiss powerhouse will serve as the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, bringing over 90 years of experience and cutting-edge technology to the world's most prestigious sporting event.
A Legacy of Precision
OMEGA's Olympic journey began in 1932 when they sent a lone watchmaker to Los Angeles armed with 30 high-precision stopwatches accurate to the nearest 1/10th of a second. This marked the first time a single watch company was entrusted with timing all Olympic events. Since then, OMEGA has been at the forefront of timekeeping innovation, continuously pushing the boundaries of accuracy and technology.
Key milestones in OMEGA's Olympic timekeeping history include:
1948: Introduction of the first photofinish camera and photoelectric cells
1956 and 1968: Revolution in swimming timekeeping with semi-automated timers and touchpads
1984: Development of starting blocks and false start detection in athletics
2012: Introduction of Quantum Timers, capable of measuring to one millionth of a second
2018: Debut of motion sensor and positioning systems for comprehensive performance measurement
Paris 2024: A Timekeeping Revolution
For the 2024 Games, OMEGA is deploying an unprecedented array of equipment and personnel:
200 km of cables and optical fiber
350 sport-specific scoreboards
85 public scoreboards
550 timekeepers and on-site professionals
350 tonnes of equipment
900 trained volunteers
But it's not just about quantity – it's about pushing the boundaries of what's possible in sports timing. Here are the groundbreaking technologies OMEGA is introducing for Paris 2024:
Scan 'O' Vision ULTIMATE
This next-generation photofinish camera can capture an astounding 40,000 digital images per second on the finish line – four times more than its predecessor. With the highest resolution of any photofinish camera on the market, it will allow judges to separate even the closest finishes with unprecedented clarity. Dedicated color sensors will produce cleaner images without pixel interference.
Computer Vision Technology
OMEGA is revolutionizing performance tracking with AI-powered camera systems that can monitor athletes and objects throughout events without physical sensors.
This technology will provide in-depth metrics and analysis across multiple sports:
Beach Volleyball: Track player movements, ball speed, and even specific shot types like smashes, blocks, and spikes. Measure distances covered by players and jump heights.
Diving: Create 3D reconstructions of dives and measure the crucial "safe gap" between diver and board. This data will help judges review performance quality.
Tennis: Measure serve return reaction times with pinpoint accuracy, tracking players, rackets, and the ball in real-time.
Pole Vault: Automatically measure the space between athlete and bar on successful jumps, providing the most precise measurement ever of this critical metric.
Gymnastics: Detect foot angles and analyze complex movements during floor routines, including whether an athlete leaves the designated area.
Vionardo Next Generation Graphics
Prepare for a visual feast with OMEGA's new 4K UHD graphics system. This technology will deliver crystal-clear, real-time information to viewers around the globe, available in multiple languages. It's a significant upgrade from the "Omegascope" technology first introduced at Innsbruck 1964, which pioneered on-screen timing displays.
Essential OMEGA Equipment
While introducing new technologies, OMEGA continues to rely on its proven timekeeping tools:
Electronic Starting Pistol: Ensures equal start times for all athletes by connecting to speakers behind each competitor.
Athletics Starting Blocks: Feature integrated speakers and sensors to detect false starts with precision.
Quantum Timer: Measures to one millionth of a second with maximum variation of only one second per ten million seconds.
Photocell Technology: Uses light beams to instantly record finish times.
Touchpads: Allow swimmers to stop the clock by exerting pressure between 1.5 and 2.5 kg.
Swimming Light Show: Instantly displays race results using colored lights on starting blocks.
Motion Sensor and Positioning Systems: Capture live data on speeds, positions, acceleration, and more across various sports.
Looking to the Future
OMEGA's commitment to the Olympic Games extends far beyond 2024. The company has already secured its role as Official Timekeeper through 2032, which will mark an incredible century-long partnership with the Olympic Movement. Upcoming milestones include:
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: OMEGA's 32nd time as Official Timekeeper, featuring the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering events.
Los Angeles 2028: A symbolic return to where OMEGA's Olympic journey began, now with vastly different equipment and new sports to time, including baseball/softball, squash, cricket, lacrosse, and flag football.
Latest from Paris Olympics 2024, OMEGA’s photofinish camera was able to split the sprinters in the Men’s 100m final where the two athletes recorded the exact finish time of 9.79 seconds, declaring Noah Lyles as the gold medalist by a margin of five milliseconds!
The Olympic motto may be "Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together," but with OMEGA's unparalleled precision and technological prowess, we might need to add "More Precise" to that list. As the countdown to Paris 2024 continues, the world waits with bated breath to witness not just the triumphs of athletes, but the next leap forward in the art and science of Olympic timekeeping.
