2010 VANCOUVER OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
The latest chapter in OMEGA’s Olympic story took place in the beautiful Canadian province of British Columbia. Our 220 timekeepers and data handlers were supported by more than 250 tons of equipment at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
OMEGA and the Olympic Winter Games – a 74-year history
When the giant OMEGA Countdown Clock in Vancouver reached zero on February 12th and the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games began, the curtain was raised on the 24th Olympic Games at which OMEGA had served as Official Timekeeper.
At OMEGA’s first timekeeping assignment for the Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany in 1936, a lone OMEGA technician brought 27 stopwatches which were used to time each event at the Games.
Seventy-four years later in Vancouver and Whistler, OMEGA deployed 220 timekeeping professionals and engineers with twelve different nationalities. They were supported by some 250 tons of equipment for timekeeping, on-venue results and TV services. They worked with 290 specially selected and trained local volunteers. It was the largest timekeeping contingent in the history of winter sport.
“. . . the largest timekeeping contingent in the history of winter sport.”
OMEGA began its Olympic timekeeping tradition at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games. In addition to its prominent Olympic role, OMEGA has been behind many of the most important technological developments in all of sports timekeeping.
The Games in Vancouver took place over a 17-day period. More than 5,500 Olympic Games athletes and officials from more than 80 countries made it the largest Olympic Winter Games ever. The Paralympic Games, for which OMEGA was also Official Timekeeper, took place over ten days from the 12th of March. The Paralympic Games attracted 1,350 athletes and officials from more than forty countries.
Worldwide interest in the Games
The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games attracted an estimated three billion television viewers worldwide. More than 10,000 members of the press attended and the vancouver2010.com website was visited 75 million times.
Omega Timing and the Olympic Winter Games
As is the case at every Olympic Games, there was drama in Vancouver and Whistler. There was also the euphoria shared by the medallists and the heartbreak suffered by the competitors who didn’t quite achieve their dreams. Omega celebrates not only the gold, silver and bronze medal winners but all of the men and women whose grit, determination and dedication made the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games such a special event for all of us. You are true Olympians.
