Official Olympic Timekeeper OMEGA and Tokyo 2020 mark one-year countdown
The official countdown clock for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was today unveiled by OMEGA, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, to celebrate one year to go until the flame is lit at the Opening Ceremony.
John Coates, Chair of the IOC’s Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission, joined Christophe Savioz, Country Manager of Swatch Group Japan; Alain Zobrist, CEO of OMEGA Timing; and Yoshiro Mori, President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, to reveal the clock at Marunouchi Central Square beside Tokyo Station.
The countdown clock measures four metres in height and is the result of close cooperation between OMEGA and the Olympic Games organisers.
Tokyo 2020 will mark the 29th time since 1932 that OMEGA has supplied cutting-edge timekeeping services to the Olympic Games.
Coates said: “We are privileged to share this moment together with OMEGA, a long-standing partner of the IOC. They bring a level of timekeeping precision and experience that is vital to the Olympic Games and all the athletes who compete.”
Christophe Savioz added: “I’m particularly proud to represent OMEGA and the Swatch Group in Japan at this incredible time. There is a great feeling of anticipation and excitement that is shared between everyone within the brand as well as the host city.”
During the countdown ceremony and in a tribute to tradition, Alain Zobrist handed President Mori an OMEGA last lap bell, still used today in certain Olympic Games events. The ceremony was also attended by Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo; Yuji Fukasawa, President and CEO of East Japan Railway Company; and a large delegation from the Japanese Olympic Committee.
In 2017, the IOC renewed its global partnership with OMEGA until 2032, extending to 100 years the relationship between the Worldwide Olympic Partner and the Olympic Movement. OMEGA has committed to providing state-of-the art timing, scoring and in-venue results systems and equipment.
To tie in with the one-year countdown to Tokyo, OMEGA has launched two limited edition watches that will be restricted to 2,020 pieces each: The Seamaster Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020 Limited Edition and The Seamaster Planet Ocean Tokyo 2020 Limited Edition.
A record 33 sports and 339 events will be staged at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which will run from 24 July to 9 August.