The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced an extension to its global partnership with official timekeeper OMEGA through to 2032, extending its existing partnership by 12 years to include the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 through to the Games of the XXXV Olympiad (2032).
The announcement was made at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, by Thomas Bach, IOC President; Nick Hayek, CEO of Swatch Group and Chairman of OMEGA; and Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA. OMEGA is the first Worldwide Olympic Partner to commit to the Olympic Movement through to 2032. The extension marks 100 years since the start of OMEGA’s relationship with the Olympic Games, which dates back to the Olympic Games in 1932 in Los Angeles.
IOC President Thomas Bach enthusiastically welcomed OMEGA’s extended partnership with the IOC: “OMEGA is the world’s leader in sports timekeeping, and the extension of our agreement through to 2032 means Olympic athletes will continue to be able to rely on OMEGA’s expertise. 2032 is an important milestone, as it will mark 100 years since the Olympic Movement was first able to count on OMEGA’s timekeeping solutions.”
The partnership will continue the commitment by OMEGA to provide cutting-edge timing, scoring, and in-venue results system and equipment, which are critical for the success of the Olympic Games.
Tsunekazu Takeda, the IOC’s Marketing Commission Chair, said: “We are delighted that OMEGA has become the first global Olympic Partner to reach an agreement through to 2032. It is also the first time in our long relationship that OMEGA has extended its partnership by 12 years, which underlines the strength of the Olympic Games and the IOC’s commercial programmes”.
Nick Hayek, CEO of Swatch Group, said: “The Olympic Games is one of the most emotionally-stirring events in the world, with an Olympic medal as the ultimate sporting dream. Its message of unity through sport is deeply compelling for people everywhere. From whichever media platform available, people tune in and cheer for their favoured athletes. We at OMEGA are honoured, that since 1932 we have been part of creating this emotion by measuring the fractions of a second or the distances that will decide between gold, silver and bronze. We are happy and proud to continue this tradition until 2032, which will mark one hundred years of partnership between OMEGA and the Olympics”.
OMEGA has served as Official Timekeeper 27 times, and has developed and introduced the most cutting-edge timekeeping equipment in the world, including the starting pistol, touchpads for swimming and the Scan ‘O’ Vision MYRIA photofinish camera, which made its Olympic Games debut in Rio and can capture 10,000 digital images per second.