How Olympic partner Omega keeps up with the times

''So without us there would be no Olympic Games.''

How has Olympic partner Omega kept up with the times?

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ALAIN ZOBRIST, CEO OF SWISS TIMING, OMEGA'S PARENT COMPANY, SAYING:

"So, Omega started in 1932 as official timekeeper of the Olympic Games. Back then one watchmaker went all the way from Switzerland to Los Angeles and in his suitcase had 30 stopwatches. One of them is right here, still functioning, and already very accurate at that time, being able to measure to the 10th of a second."

Omega’s technology has had to evolve for each edition

to cater for closer competition and the introduction of new sports

Omega brought 400 tons of equipment to the Tokyo 2020 Games

and more than 500 staff to operate it

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ALAIN ZOBRIST, CEO OF SWISS TIMING, OMEGA'S PARENT COMPANY, SAYING:

"Five new sports at the Olympics this year in Tokyo, we have over 100 different solutions in our shelves that we can take out and provide our services for. One of these five sports, however, is very particular, it is speed climbing. For the very first time we are having touchpads installed at the bottom for take off, and at the very top, and that makes it the second sport after swimming, where athletes will be able to stop their times themselves."

"These motion sensors and positioning systems are really a true milestone for us in the history of time keeping. The fact we are being able now to explain an athlete's result throughout their entire performance, where they gained or lost time or points, is definitely a game changer. And it is certainly going to evolve also in the future."

Omega have extended their Olympic contract until 2032

when they will celebrate a centenary of involvement with the Games