Omega to bring up century with IOC

Swiss watchmaker Omega has extended its top-tier worldwide partnership with the International Olympic Committee through to the 2032 summer Games.

The new deal represents a 12-year extension to the two parties’ previous agreement, which was due to expire after the 2020 summer Games in Tokyo. Omega becomes the first worldwide Olympic partner to commit to the IOC through to 2032.

Omega will retain its position as the official timekeeper of the IOC at the 2022 winter Games in Beijing, as well as the 2026 and 2030 winter Games, and the 2024, 2028 and 2032 summer Games.

Omega’s in-venue timing and scoring results system and equipment will continue to be used at the Games as part of the extended agreement.

Omega has served as the official timekeeper at 27 editions of the Olympics, having first backed the 1932 summer Games in Los Angeles. The company has developed timekeeping equipment such as starting pistols, touchpads for swimming and photo-finish cameras.

IOC president Thomas Bach said: “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.”

Tsunekazu Takeda, the IOC's Marketing Commission chair, added: “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.”

Omega serves as a worldwide Olympic partner of the IOC alongside Coca-Cola, Alibaba, Atos, Bridgestone, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Panasonic, P&G, Samsung, Toyota and Visa.