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Alain Zobrist, CEO, Swiss Timing Ltd., on Omega’s timekeeping legacy at the Olympics

With around 550 timekeepers and on-site professionals, and 900 trained volunteers, Omega is all geared to time the Olympic Games Paris 2024. We spoke to Alain Zobrist about what this entails.
Omega has been the official timekeeper for the Olympics Games since 1932, and 2024 marks the 31st time that the Swiss watchmaker will be timekeeping for 329 Olympic events across 32 sports. The brand’s legacy in the Olympics is rich with evolutions in timekeeping, from Omega’s first photofinish camera and photoelectric cells in 1948 to the quartz-driven Quantum Timers, first introduced in 2012. 


The equipment and technology delivered for Olympic timekeeping falls under the purview of Swiss Time Ltd., a subsidiary of Omega, which is specially tasked with the job. And this is not limited to, say, just a stopwatch or digital clock/dashboard that needs to be activated and deactivated at the start and end of an event. Today, timekeeping for an event like the Olympics differs from sport to sport, and ranges from swimming touchpads and digital archery boards, to underwater lap counters and traditional bronze last-lap bells in athletics. There are also specially designed starting blocks for runners with built-in sensors that not just measure force against the footrest 4,000 times per second, but can also inform on potential false starts by up to a tenth of a second. The presence of Omega’s Quantum Timers, Electronic Starting Pistols, and hi-resolution scoreboards also enhance the sports experiences. 

Scan'O'Vision Ultimate Camera

For the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which flags off on July 26, the brand is upping its precision game with advanced technology, including the Scan ‘O’ Vision Ultimate, a photofinish technology that replaces the Scan ‘O’ Vision MYRIA used in the previous setups. With the ability to click up to 40,000 images per second, the Scan ‘O’ Vision Ultimate will help in taking clear and fast decisions on the finish line of races as it is the highest resolution photofinish camera without pixel interference. The Scan ‘O’ Vision MYRIA, in comparison, could take 10,000 images per second.  A new computer vision technology will be used in beach Volleyball, Diving, Tennis, Pole Vault, and Gymnastics — the high-definition cameras in the field will track the players accurately and help the judges to review their performances. The Paris Olympics will also witness the Vionardo Next Generation Graphics technology which will display graphics in 4K UHD and produce extremely clear and captivating graphics in real time. 
Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope Marks 100 Days to Paris 2024

Omega has also been the official timekeeper of the Paralympic Games 1992, and will continue to do so this year as well — the Paralympics are starting from August 28. With such a deep association with the iconic legendary event, it is no surprise that the brand also marks each edition with a launch of new timepieces. In April this year, Omega unveiled the Speedmaster Chronoscope collection in the colours of the competition - gold, black, and white. Four 42mm watches - two in stainless steel with anodized aluminium bezel on a steel or perforated rubber strap, and the other two in Omega’s proprietary 18K Moonshine™ Gold paired with either the Moonshine™ Gold bracelet or black calfskin leather strap - had casebacks that featured the words ‘Paris 2024’ and the Olympic Rings stamped on it along with a mirror-polished Paris 2024 logo, over a frosted base. Powering these chronograph watches is the METAS-certified Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9908 / 9909, and offers about 60 hours of reserve. 


Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, we talked to Alain Zobrist, CEO, Swiss Time Ltd., on the brand’s association with the Olympics, and Omega’s timekeeping strategies and enhancements this year. 

Alain Zobrist, CEO, Swiss Timing Ltd

WatchTime India: Omega has been the Olympic timekeeper since 1932. How did that association come to be, where were the synergies found between the sporting event and the Swiss watch brand?
Alain Zobrist: Omega was chosen as the first Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games in 1932 because of the company’s reputation for precision. Around that time, the brand was winning many industry awards for accuracy and setting a number of World Records. Omega was therefore a natural choice for the world of sports measurement. The organisers of the Olympic Games knew that our quality and precision could be relied on, no matter the event.
Computer Vision Camera

WTI: As CEO of Swiss Timing for the last 10 years, what are the challenges that occur in your role when it comes to the Olympics?

OMEGA 1968 Swimming

AZ: The biggest challenge is the number of different sports we have to measure. For example, at Paris 2024, there are 329 events across 32 sports, and Omega has to be an expert in every single one. That takes a lot of logistical planning, but it also takes constant evolution of our technology. As CEO, I have to make sure that we are prepared to handle such a huge task, and measure every moment with absolute reliability.


WTI: What are the different types of technology Omega is using for different sports?
Electronic Starting Pistol

AZ: With so many sports, we have a lot of different equipment as you can imagine. In fact, we’re taking 350 tonnes of equipment to Paris 2024. Some of the most important technologies can be used across multiple sports. For example, the photofinish camera, or the Quantum Timer – the modern version of a stopwatch, which has an accuracy of one millionth of a second. Today, we’ve even integrated our famous swimming touchpads into the climbing events. Now, climbers can stop their own time in the Speed events by touching the pads at the top of the wall. We have digital archery boards, underwater lap counters, traditional bronze last-lap bells in athletics…The list is almost endless.

WTI: Can you share insights into how Omega is constantly developing its timekeeping technology? What does the research and development into something like this look like? 

1948 The Electonic Era Arrives

AZ: Omega works closely with the individual organising bodies of each sport. With their knowledge, and our expertise, we look for ways to improve our timekeeping and see what benefits we can offer to the athletes, judges, and spectators. Once agreed, we begin the development of new technologies. This can take several years in our laboratory. However, before the new technologies can reach the Olympic Games, they have to be tested multiple times at domestic sporting events, to make sure everyone is happy, including the athletes. It’s a long process from start to finish, but once the technology is officially homologated, it will be implemented at the Olympic Games.

WTI: What does the team at Omega Timing division look like?
AZ: We have around 400 people working at Omega Timing, each dedicated to certain technologies or sports. There is a large laboratory space for development and testing, and of course, for an operation like this, you need experts in sport, but also in software development and technical engineering, for example. It’s really a consolidated team effort, with an abundance of knowledge and experience at hand.


WTI: What would be considered a milestone in Omega’s history of timekeeping in the Olympics?
AZ: One of the most celebrated milestones is the introduction of swimming touchpads in 1968. Before that time, swimming relied on the human eye, which was often unreliable and controversial. As you can imagine, being under water, it’s quite difficult to detect who touches the finish first. Our touchpads solved that issue. Placed at the end of the pool, they allow swimmers to stop their own time, and it gives us a very precise and reliable result. The touchpads are still used today – which proves how valuable they are.


WTI: Is there a most challenging sport to time? And if so, why and how is that ?
AZ: Every event brings its own challenges and logistical requirements. Certainly, there’s always a big focus on the 100m sprints. It’s a moment watched by the whole world and it’s all over in less than 10 seconds. For Omega, everything has to go smoothly, and so it comes with pressure. We have the starting pistols, the starting blocks, the false start detection, the photocells on the finish line, and the photofinish camera. There’s a lot of considerations in a very short time. But with that pressure comes excitement and pride for our timekeepers.

Volleyball still

WTI: Is it stressful for you during the Olympics regarding timekeeping?
AZ: There’s pressure, of course. But I wouldn’t say it’s stressful. Omega has so much experience at the Olympic Games and I am supported by a team of experts in every sport. My job is to stay focused and embrace the energy. The Olympic Games is such a special occasion and I really try to enjoy it as much as possible.


WTI: Which sport do you personally enjoy?
AZ: I always enjoy swimming events. They always have memorable races and historic moments. One of the best highlights was in 2008 in Beijing. In the men’s 100m butterfly final, Michael Phelps beat Milorad Cavic by 0.01 of a second. That is the closest possible result in swimming. But it was Omega’s technology and high-speed cameras that determined the result. That was a great moment for us and a thrilling race to watch. It’s the best example of Omega’s importance at the Olympic Games.

Images: Courtesy brand

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