Serving the Olympic Games for nearly 100 years, OMEGA has not only provided reliable and accurate timing equipment and technology for the event, but also provided athletes and coaches with a wealth of detailed data to promote the improvement of competitive standards
Text/Mo Yun
The 33rd Summer Olympic Games held in Paris, France attracted attention from all over the world. This quadrennial sporting event brings together the world's top sports talent. The competition is extremely fierce, and the difference between victory and defeat is often only a millimeter, and the difference is so small that it is almost impossible for the naked eye to recognize. So, how can such a competition accurately determine the results and fairly rank the athletes?
This may seem like a simple question, but it's very high-tech. In the 100-year history of the modern Olympic Games, as athletes' pursuit of speed and height continues to break through the limit, the pursuit of accuracy in timing equipment is also approaching the extreme.
From the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics to the present, the problem of "more accurate" has been solved by OMEGA, a well-known professional watchmaking brand in Switzerland. OMEGA has been Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games for 92 years since 1932, and the Paris Olympics will be the 31st time that the brand has been Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games. In addition, OMEGA has been the Official Timekeeper of the Paralympic Games since 1992 and offers a number of timekeeping techniques tailored specifically for the Paralympic Games.
The OMEGA Pavilion was officially unveiled at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
This year, OMEGA provided timing equipment and services for 329 Olympic events in 32 sports and pioneered the use of a number of advanced timing technologies. The most widely used technology is Computer Vision, which uses a combination of single or multi-camera systems with specially trained AI models. This technology not only accurately records athletes' performance in competitions, but also provides a series of detailed data to help athletes and coaches analyze movements to improve and improve to achieve better results.
Providing professional timing services for top international sporting events, reliability is a unique value of OMEGA. "Over the past 92 years, we have been trusted not only by the IOC, but also by the athletes involved." Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of Omega, said the Olympics are part of the OMEGA DNA.
On the evening of July 28, Paris time, France men's swimmer Léon ·Marchand (Léon Marchand) won the gold medal in the men's 400-meter individual medley at this Olympic Games, and he is also the world record holder in this event. Marchand said: "It doesn't mean anything to me if a sport is judged only by subjective judges. I think that accurate timing equipment will ensure that the result of the race is fair and just, and that we will be able to win the moment. Precise timing devices provide reliable data to make the results of the race clear at a glance. In my opinion, OMEGA's timing equipment for sporting events has been a great help in our careers and has helped the sport of swimming. ”
More than just timekeeping
In the early Olympic Games, the timing tools were very simple, and "stopwatch + manual timing" became the standard. However, such measurements are too inaccurate to adapt to the ever-increasing level of competition of athletes. Today, OMEGA's timekeeping equipment and technology for the Olympic Games have evolved from a stopwatch to an intelligent high-tech system.
Electronic starting pistol
Optoelectronic eye technology
Quantum timer
Starting block
In swimming, for example, the success and accurate timing of a competition requires a variety of equipment such as touchpads, ranking indicators, motion sensors and positioning systems.
During the take-off session, each starting platform is equipped with a take-off foul detection system and speakers to ensure that all participants can hear the take-off signal and start at the same time. The OMEGA Backstroke Start Ledge increases the backstroke's starting kick and adjusts the trajectory of the athlete into the water so that the athlete is positioned higher above the water during the jump. At the same time, the height of the backstroke starting ledge can also be adjusted to multiple positions, so that athletes can better adjust the starting angle according to their own needs at the time of departure.
At the end of the swimming competition, the competitors "stop the timing" by applying a pressure of 1.5 kg to 2.5 kg to the touchpad at the end of the lane. This touchpad is the perfect choice for accurate timing of swimming competitions.
In 1968, OMEGA introduced the touchpad to the Olympic swimming program. Since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, touchpads have also been introduced to rock climbing events, placed on top of rock faces.
The ranking lights are placed on the starting platform at the end of the pool. At the end of the race, one large spot represents the first place for the swimmer in that lane, two medium-sized spots for second place, and three small spots for third place. In this way, the athletes and spectators are immediately informed of the results.
OMEGA's newly developed timing system not only determines race results and rankings, but also provides real-time data on swimmers' strokes, real-time position and even acceleration. This data can help to improve an athlete's technique or improve their movements.
Marchand says that every improvement is attention to detail. This data can help athletes identify areas for improvement in order to optimize their training and increase their speed, which is beneficial for swimming. "For example, I'm trying to maintain my speed underwater, and the data provided by the Omega timing device helps me improve my strokes and maintain my ideal pace during the race." He said.
In addition to the timing technology for swimming, OMEGA also provided timing equipment and technologies such as electronic starting pistols, starting blocks, quantum timers, optoelectronic eye technology, and high-resolution scoreboards for use in a variety of events.
In athletics, it's crucial for athletes to be able to start at the same time. Traditional starting pistols transmit sound through the air. Although the starter in front of the television hears the start at the same time, in fact, the athlete furthest from the starting gun is actually heard later than the nearest athlete at the start of the game. Just this negligible time difference can also lead to an unfair game. Because the final results of the athletes are often only a small difference, resulting in a huge gap in the rankings.
Today, Omega's electronic starter pistol is connected to a speaker behind each contestant. When the trigger is pulled, the flash lights up and the start signal is transmitted to the chronograph. On top of that, a loudspeaker behind each athlete ensures that they can hear the starting pistol at the same time.
In addition to the integrated speaker, the starting point for athletics has a built-in pressure sensor that measures the pressure exerted by the athlete on the starting gear 4,000 times per second. The detection system will send the pressure measurement results to the on-site computer synchronously, so that the starter can intuitively monitor the front-running behavior. According to the World Athletics Federation, the physiological reaction time is a minimum of 100 milliseconds (1/10th of a second), and less than this reaction time is considered a front-running.
In addition, there is a very important piece of timing equipment on the field - the quantum timer. It's the modern equivalent of a stopwatch.
OMEGA is officially on the clock at Paris 2024.
The resolution of Omega's quantum timer has been increased to one millionth of a second. Powered by a miniature crystal element built into a timer, it offers a 100-fold increase in resolution, a maximum error of only ten-millionths of a second, and a five-fold increase in accuracy compared to previous devices.
In today's athletics competitions, you can't see athletes crossing the finish line. The beam emitted by the optoelectronic eye device replaces the traditional finish line band. When the winning athlete rushes through the electron beam, their winning time is immediately recorded. Omega has four photoelectronic eyes at the finish line, all of which are integrated into a device to detect more body movements. The Optoelectronic Eye device allows OMEGA to accurately record the time it takes to cross the finish line, and the images taken by the finish camera are conclusive evidence of the official timing results.
Omega's high-resolution scoreboard displays text and real-time information, as well as animations, pictures of athletes and visuals. Through the application of modern special effects, the names and results of the winners can be prominently displayed on the scoreboard of each match.
Innovations in timing technology at the Paris Olympics
This is the 31st time that OMEGA has been the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games. At Los Angeles 1932, OMEGA was the first official timekeeper of the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games opened a new chapter in the official timing of all competitions by watchmaking companies.
At the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Omega began to serve as the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games.
OMEGA launched 30 high-precision chronographs accurate to tenths of a second from Biel, Switzerland, to Los Angeles, United States, beginning a close relationship with the Olympic Games for nearly 100 years. From the very beginning of its foray into the field of event timing, it has demonstrated professionalism in terms of precision.
Los Angeles 1932, Omega split-seconds chronograph pocket watch.
At the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, OMEGA was once again the official timekeeper. This time, Omega took on the challenge of freezing snow and snow, timing events such as speed skating, alpine skiing and more.
In 1948, OMEGA ushered in a new era of electronic timekeeping with the introduction of the finish camera and the optoelectronic eye. In 1956 and 1968, OMEGA revolutionized the rules of swimming with the introduction of a semi-automatic timer and a touchpad for the finish line, which is now common. Since 1984, OMEGA has continued to upgrade and optimize the starting system and race monitoring system in track and field events.
In 2012, the era of chronographs came to an end and was replaced by quantum timers. Quantum timers can have resolutions of up to millionths of a second. Since 2018, OMEGA has introduced advanced motion sensors and positioning systems that can monitor each athlete's performance throughout the race, so as to accurately represent the results of each match.
The 1948 London Olympics ushered in a new era of electronic timekeeping.
London 1948, Omega finish camera.
At the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the first sliding gate was used in the Alpine skiing event.
"We apply the rigorous certifications of the watchmaking industry to our timekeeping equipment. Timing equipment has undergone a series of rigorous tests, including anti-magnetic, anti-static, etc. These processes ensure the accuracy of our timing equipment. Alain Zobrist, CEO of Omega Timekeeping, said that Omega, on ·the other hand, uses its own mother clock to calibrate all its timekeeping devices. It's hard to find another mother clock on the market that can do such a delicate task, so this ensures the accuracy of OMEGA chronographs.
At Paris 2024, OMEGA will demonstrate another leap forward in modern timekeeping technology.
The success of modern timekeeping lies in the fact that it not only accurately records the athletes' performance, but also provides a series of detailed data that provides an in-depth picture of how the athletes' results are achieved in each event.
At the Paris Olympics, the difference between victory and defeat will be more precise. This year, OMEGA is introducing a new generation of finish photography. The new Scan'O'Vision ULTIMATE features a higher resolution finish camera that can capture up to 40,000 digital images per second at the finish line, replacing the previous Scan'O'Vision MYRIA, which captured 10,000 digital images per second.
This technology helps referees determine results faster, identifying athletes who are very close to each other when they reach the finish line in ultra-high definition. A dedicated color sensor also improves the clarity of the image, regardless of pixels.
In order to take the monitoring of athletes' movement quality data to the next level, OMEGA used computer vision technology at the Paris Olympics. The technology is widely used in beach volleyball, diving, tennis, pole vault, gymnastics and more, and is used in almost every detail of the Olympic Games.
In beach volleyball, computer vision technology eliminates the need for sensors on the jersey and allows all data to be captured by high-definition cameras installed by OMEGA around the field. The system not only accurately tracks the movements of the athletes, but also tracks the trajectory of the volleyball in the air. These records provide an accurate representation of each game, including the distance traveled by each player, the speed of the player and the volleyball, the unique player technique (such as jump height), and the type of shot shot such as smash, block and cushion.
Above: Computer Vision technology is applied to beach volleyball, diving and other competitions.
A new generation of Vionardo TV graphics technology.
A new generation of Vionardo TV graphics technology.
In diving, a camera system tracks the diver from the start to the time he enters the water. In this process, artificial intelligence will be combined with mathematical algorithms to reproduce three-dimensional images of diving movements, and provide image data and measurement indicators, such as air time and entry speed, to help referees evaluate the quality of diving maneuvers.
In addition to body posture, the image data will also track the distance from the springboard when the athlete performs the diving maneuver. This distance is called the "safety interval" and is the minimum distance that needs to be maintained for each dive. Athletes may lose points if they do not maintain a safe distance.
In tennis, computer vision technology specifically measures the reaction time of each return by tracking the position of players, rackets and tennis balls in real time.
In pole vaulting, OMEGA uses automatic measurement technology to determine the gap between the athlete and the bar. This technique provides a more accurate way to measure how far an athlete is from the pole after a successful jump.
In floor exercise, OMEGA's multi-camera system tracks athletes, providing useful metrics for referees and TV presentations. For example, the system can record whether an athlete has exceeded a defined area, or measure the height and duration of a jump. With AI-based bone tracking, it is even possible to monitor the angle of an athlete's feet, allowing for in-depth analysis of performance during jumps and turns.
In addition, at Paris 2024, OMEGA will use Vionardo technology, a next-generation media charting system.
Omega first began providing television graphics at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. The new Omegascope technology, which superimposes the athletes' race time on the bottom of the TV screen, introduced the concept of "real-time" to televised sports broadcasts, allowing millions of viewers to witness OMEGA's precise timing technology.
Now, 60 years later, at the Paris Olympics, OMEGA unveiled a new generation of media graphics technology.
The next-generation Vionardo TV charting technology will present crisp and beautiful charts in real-time with 4K UHD ultra-high definition definition. Depending on the needs of rights-holding broadcasters in different regions, the device will provide TV graphic content in different languages. Through an interactive user interface, it can be operated by Olympic Broadcasting Service staff and even volunteers. Outside of the Olympic Games, the technology can also provide TV graphics remotely, minimizing the footprint of infrastructure in the competition venues and contributing to sustainable development.
At Paris 2024, OMEGA will provide graphics technology for the various sports at the venues, and some of the systems will be installed at the International Broadcasting Centre for specific remote productions. At the International Broadcasting Centre, the graphic information will be made available to the Olympic Broadcasting Service, which will send it to media rights holders around the world.
The Olympic spirit of OMEGA timekeeping
After nearly 100 years of development, starting with the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Omega Timekeeping has a team of about 450 people, specializing in timekeeping.
According to Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA, the team's main focus is on technological innovation, while also timing multiple sporting events each year.
When it comes to new equipment, Omega Timing works closely with the independent organisations of each sport. Before serving the Olympic Games, OMEGA must undergo comprehensive testing at other individual sporting events to ensure that the quality of its technology and services is recognized.
Alain Zobrist, CEO ·of Omega Timekeeping, said that if the timing of the Olympic Games goes wrong, the consequences will be unimaginable. That's why OMEGA is proud of its mission. "We are proud to say that the role played by Omega is crucial in all the companies involved in the service." He said.
On the other hand, Omega has a key advantage – the trust of its athletes. "Actually, athletes are our number one customer, they practice day and night, and they may only have 10 seconds on the field to show their results. If we can't grasp those 10 seconds, we will definitely fail the athletes. "So, we need to give them the best technology and service." ”
With 92 years of Olympic timing service, Omega is also an irreplaceable brand enabler.
The Olympics have become an important part of Omega's DNA. The Olympics perfectly represent the values of precision, excellence and innovation, Anderson said. "Over the past 92 years, our name has been associated with great sporting moments, which has naturally built a reputation of trust among our customers. This is a huge benefit for our overall business and strengthens our reputation in the watch market. ”
Due to OMEGA's special relationship with the Olympic Games, OMEGA presents a commemorative product for each Olympic Games, allowing the public to experience and share its meaningful timekeeping achievements.
This year, OMEGA has created three commemorative watches for the Paris Olympics: the Seamaster Diver 300M Edition "Paris 2024", the Speedmaster Chronoscope Edition "Paris 2024" and the "Paris 2024" Edition in bronze and gold.
The OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M Edition "Paris 2024".
Western Eggplant Whole New "Paris 2024" Special Edition 青铜金Arm表
欧米茄全新超霸系列 Chronoscope腕表 "Paris 2024"特别版
Among them, the design of the case back of the Seamaster Diver 300M "Paris 2024" special edition is commemorative. The caseback is set with the Paris Olympic medallion in 18K Moonshine gold, partially polished to contrast with the laser-ablated background. The "Paris 2024" lettering in stainless steel and the classic Olympic rings have also been polished to complement each other.
Its white ceramic dial has a matte finish and is laser-engraved to create a polished ripple pattern with an embossed effect. At 6 o'clock, there is a date window, a black date in the font of the Paris Olympics, and a small and delicate emblem of the Paris Olympics in the central seconds hand.
The Speedmaster Chronoscope Edition "Paris 2024" is a watch designed for precise timekeeping. Measuring 43 mm, the case is designed in gold, black and white, the main colours of the Paris Olympic Games, in celebration of the Paris Olympic Games.
The more striking design of this watch is its silvery-white dial. The dial scale inherits the "snail" design style of the 40s of the 20th century, and is decorated with three dark gray counters, including the tachymeter scale, the distance measuring scale and the pulsometer scale, bringing together the three classic measurement functions on the wrist. The brushed caseback is adorned with the mirror-polished Paris Olympic logo, the inscription "Paris 2024" and the Olympic rings.
For athletes, gold, silver and bronze medals are the crowning honours of their careers. The third commemorative timepiece, the vintage-chic "Paris 2024" special edition bronze gold, was launched on 24 July, paying tribute to the Olympic medals that athletes fought for their dreams.
The design of this OMEGA "Paris 2024" special edition bronze gold watch combines three important precious metals to make it highly collectible. The case measures 39 mm and is made of bronze gold developed by OMEGA; The dial is made of silver (Ag 925); The slender hands are made of 18K Sedna™ gold created by OMEGA and coated with a special bronze gold coating using PVD technology.
"The Olympics are about pushing the limits. It's the determination of the athletes to be faster, higher, and stronger that drives them to the podium. "It's the same quality that Omega has in terms of timekeeping and watchmaking." We are always pushing the boundaries of innovation and quality to deliver higher standards. Whether it's for our watch customers, or for the athletes, referees and spectators of the Olympic Games. ”