OMEGA BRINGS CUTTING EDGE TIMEKEEPING TECHNOLOGY, LIFESTYLE, FUN AND CARE TO THE 2016 RIO OLYMPICS

This year was the 27th time that watchmaker Omega was appointed the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, which were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from Aug. 5 to 21.

Omega’s timekeeping heritage began in 1932, when just one technician armed with 30 chronographs was sent to time the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles.

In keeping with the advancement of technology, this year the watchmaker used a number of cutting-edge and fascinating technologies related to timekeeping functions, which were divided into several categories suited to each competition field.

In the athletics field, first of all, the iconic starter pistol was fully electronic and used a light pulse and sound to signal the start of a race. Furthermore, the false start detection system was capable of scanning 4,000 times a second, and combined with the pressure-sensitive starting blocks, was able to measure a false start if an athlete moved in less than 100 milliseconds after the start signal.

Meanwhile, each starting block on the track incorporated a loudspeaker so that athletes could hear the start signal at the exact same time. At the finish line, there was a photoelectric cells device mounted with four infrared beams that immediately stopped timing when an athlete crossed the line. The new scan “o” vision MYRIA, meanwhile, is the latest photo-finish camera and can take up to 10,000 images per second.

All the properties have a 1,000th of a second accuracy, allowing for precision in monitoring competitions.

In the swimming field, Omega offered a microphone device that sends a start pulse to the timing system when the button is pushed. The high-speed camera takes 100 images per second and acts as a backup in case the touchpad results are missing or are too soft. The adjustable footrest enables a swimmer to dive into the water at an ideal angle. The false start sensors measure the swimmer’s reaction times following the start. The system signals a false start if the equipment detects a reaction in less than 100 milliseconds after the start. Integrated loudspeakers on each starting block emitted the start signal simultaneously.

To monitor time in the swimming pools, Omega introduced the first touchpads in swimming pools, enabling swimmers to stop their own time.

All these facilities were contained in 450 tons of equipment, operated by 480 on-site professionals, 200 kilometers of cables and optical fiber as well as 850 trained volunteers, supported by 335 sport-specific scoreboards and 79 public scoreboards.

Array of celebrations

Aside from these supporting facilities, Omega is also proud to have unveiled its exclusive residence and members-only club for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, showcasing its products while hosting a number of Olympics-related parties. The house is situated inside the Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim on Ipanema Beach.

During the prestigious sporting event, the location was transformed into a modern, light-filled space where invited guests could enjoy the atmosphere of the Games in a unique style. With views across the sand and palm trees, the interior of the house was created around the pillars of the Omega brand. This meant that guests were able to step foot into uniquely themed rooms dedicated to sports timekeeping, space exploration, ocean heritage, ladies’ timepieces and watch-making innovation.

Rich in bohemian history and culture, Casa De Cultura is a simple, beautifully designed building that makes excellent use of natural light, classic architecture and unforgettable views out across one of the world’s most famous beaches. Here, besides the swaying palm trees and black-and-white mosaic sidewalks of Ipanema, the location was reimagined and transformed into the setting for the Omega house.

The house also hosted a number of parties involving athletes who participated and championed in previous Olympics. Argentine sailor Santiago Lange, who lost part of a lung to cancer last year, teamed up with Cecilia Carranza Saroli to win gold in Rio 2016. They also stood on stage along with New Zealand sailor and silver medalist Alexandra Maloney and Irish sailor and silver medalist Annalise Murphy.

As the Official Timekeeper of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Omega celebrated the prestigious sporting occasion by hosting many unmissable events throughout August, from the Opening Night with Eddie Redmayne to the “Swimming Legends” night with Michael Phelps and Chad le Clos. Along the way, a number of famous faces were spotted in the crowds, including many athletes and well-known faces. Various musicians, like saxophonist Kenny G, also took part in entertaining guests and athletes during the parties.

As Omega departs, this vibrant space has been returned to the community with a renovated interior and fresh lease of life. It was certainly an excellent and exciting place to be during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Social projects

Besides providing facilities and hosting parties, Omega also conducted a number of social projects to help residents of the city where the Olympics were hosted by implementing several community development projects for marginalized and vulnerable communities living in the Rio de Janeiro area. The program is called “#Omegavivario”.

Within just 12 months up until the Olympic Games began, Omega marked the official countdown with it support for 12 “Social Action” projects within the host city. In partnership with the charity Viva Rio, it is hoped the monthly projects have directly improved community spaces and education centers around Rio de Janeiro, and helped thousands of young people and their families.

By focusing on this demographic, the overall result will have long-term impacts. From the earliest stages of a child’s life, it will plant the seeds for a better future and create a legacy that will continue long after the Games finished.

Programs included support for vulnerable mothers, educational and sports workshops for young children and teenagers, especially those from the immigrant community, as well as practical skills like tips and tricks to get into university and enter the workplace successfully. Vocational training sessions included those on journalism and leadership skills. Improvement and replenishment of local municipal schools were also included.