Omega Pavilion Opens At Beijing Olympic Games

Swiss watchmaker Omega presented a rousing overture to the Beijing Olympic Games, as the Omega Pavilion experienced its Grand Opening on August 4th, on the Olympic Green.  Covered by a diverse group of international journalists,  the ceremony was attended by officers of the International Olympic Committee and a cadre of Omega executives, including Omega president Stephen Urquhart, the brand's Olympic Manager Christopher Berthaud, and Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek.  Omega also had on hand some of their finest Olympian brand ambassadors, including swimming legends Ian Thorpe and Alexander Popov, and Chinese gold medalist speed skater Yang Yang.

Comprising 2,500 square meters of space across two floors, the Omega Pavilion includes among its many features a stage for special events, a boutique, and an expansive exhibition area.  Open to the public from 10AM to 8PM each day during the Games, the Pavilion enables guests to enjoy a range of Omega watch exhibits, as well as a number of sophisticated Omega timekeeping devices which the brand has utilized to revolutionize sports timing over the decades.  Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932, and has played a crucial role in pioneering cutting-edge time measurement technology.

Highlights of the Omega Pavilion's opening ceremony  included IOC President Jacques Rogge trying his hand at some watchmaking tasks under the guidance of an Omega watchmaker.  The IOC President also got the chance to work with a reproduction of the pilot controls for Solar Impulse, an Omega-sponsored solar-powered plane project whose goal is to circumnavigate the globe.

Regarding the long relationship between Omega and the Olympic Games, Rogge commented, “Our partnership began in 1932 with the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the IOC has since come to rely on the unquestionable competence, enduring commitment and assured performance of its official timekeeper.”