Omega All Set to Raise the Bar at Paris Olympics 2024

The timers are set and the athletes ready for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, scheduled to begin on July 26th in the heart of the French capital, and Omega will be taking on the role of Official Timekeeper for the 31st time since 1932. This year, the Swiss brand will be introducing the most advanced technology it has ever delivered as it records time in all 329 Olympic events across 32 sports. Omega will also be assuming its timekeeping role at the Paralympic Games that are set to begin on August 28th; the brand has proudly timed the event since 1992.

With every new edition of the Olympic Games, newer world records are set and the margins of victory seem to be getting slimmer by the split-second. To aid in better analysing such dynamic standards of precision and performance, Omega has strived to produce cutting-edge equipment and technology that not only measures the results that separate gold, silver, and bronze, but will also now reveal in-depth data that detail exactly how each event is won or lost.

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Tryst with History

Omega’s connection with the Olympic Games dates back to 1932, when for the first time, a single watch company was selected as the Official Timekeeper for every event. The brand sent one watchmaker all the way from Bienne to Los Angeles, armed with 30 high-precision stopwatches that were accurate to the nearest 1/10th of a second. This was followed in 1936 by the Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where Omega served as the Official Timekeeper again, taking on snowy events such as speed skating and alpine skiing. 

In 1948, at the start of the electronic era, Omega introduced its first photofinish camera and photoelectric cells, and a few years later, between 1956 and 1968, the brand revolutionised the sport of swimming with semi-automated timers and the now-iconic touchpads. Devices such as starting blocks and false start detection that are crucial in the world of athletics have seen ongoing development and improvement since 1984. Since 2018, Omega has also led the way in terms of finessing motion sensor and positioning systems, where every athlete’s performance can be measured from start to finish.

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New Technology

Over the decades, Omega has consistently lived up to its reputation of excelling in precision and quality, thus aligning perfectly with the spirit of the Olympic Games, where every performance is moored on precision as a central tenet. In keeping with that ethos, the brand has introduced a variety of new equipment and technology for Paris 2024. These include electronic starting pistols, quantum timers, motion sensor and positioning systems, and the next generation of its revolutionary photofinish technology. 

Omega’s Computer Vision will play a big role at Paris 2024 as well. The technology uses a combination of single or multi-camera systems, each feeding Artificial Intelligence models that are specifically trained for each sport. As in previous years, the live data will offer a comprehensive view of a whole event, revealing how it was won or lost, and the crucial moments that led to an athlete’s final result. In addition to allowing for an in-depth analysis, it no longer requires physical tags attached to athletes.

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Special-edition Watches

To commemorate the special equation with the Olympic Games, Omega has unveiled two special timepieces: Seamaster Diver 300M Paris 2024 and Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024.

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Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Paris 2024

A tribute to the medals that every athlete aims to covet at the Games, this 42mm watch—released last year—is crafted in stainless steel and 18 ct Moonshine™ Gold. The gold shines through on the bezel that features a laser-structured diving scale. The white ceramic dial sports a matte finish and polished waves, and on the date display at 6 o’clock, the Paris 2024 typography is used to inscribe the numbers in black; the seconds hand also has a Paris 2024 emblem. 

The commemorative caseback—featuring an 18 ct Moonshine™ Gold medallion—also showcases the Paris 2024 emblem, perfectly complemented by the iconic Olympic Rings in stainless steel. In keeping with the spirit of athletic excellence, the timepiece is powered by the METAS-certified Co-Axial Master Chronometer 8800. Thanks to the brand’s new patented Quick Change System, the stainless steel bracelet can be switched out for a rubber strap in either blue, white or red or even a dedicated Paris 2024 NATO strap.

Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024

Sized at 43 mm and featuring the recognisable gold, black, and white colourway of Paris 2024, this series of four models doubles up as the perfect celebration of the summer’s most important sporting event. The silvery white opaline dial—common to all four variants—instantly stands out with the three dark grey timing scales (a tachymeter, a pulsometer, and a telemeter) in a 1940s “snail” design. The Arabic numerals appear in 18 ct Moonshine™ Gold, and the leaf-shaped hands and subdial hands are PVD-Moonshine™ Gold-treated.

The caseback celebrates the Olympic Games connection as well: the stamped medallion crafted with a frosted base features a mirror-polished Paris 2024 logo, along with the stamped words, ”Paris 2024“, and the Olympic Rings. All models are powered by the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9908/9909, certified by METAS. Options available include a stainless steel version with an anodised aluminium bezel, worn on either a metal bracelet or a perforated leather strap, and a striking 18 ct Moonshine™ Gold version with a ceramic bezel. 

While the lineup of brand ambassadors for the Paris 2024 Games is stellar, the inclusion of Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson is what thrills us the most. Omega is no stranger to celebrating women and their accolades, and Jackson’s appointment remains true to the brand’s commitment to honouring women’s achievements while bolstering them onwards and upwards.

We will be watching the Games closely, especially keeping an eye on Omega’s contribution to making the sporting event the grand success that it is anticipated to be.

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