Visitors to Paris will soon be able to immerse themselves in a playful world of Olympic and Paralympic Games Timekeeping, as OMEGA unveils its Pavilion experience in the heart of the host city.
Located in the middle of the Parc de Bercy, near the Bercy Arena, the OMEGA Pavilion showcases OMEGA’s role as Official Timekeeper of the Olympic and Paralympic Games – a legacy that stretches back to 1932. Inside the interactive venue, a series of revealing installations have been created, allowing everyone to get hands-on with a variety of sports.
To declare the OMEGA Pavilion officially open on Thursday, the ribbon was jointly cut by Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, and Alain Zobrist, CEO of OMEGA Timing.
Together, they began their visit outside the entrance, where OMEGA’s history at the Olympic and Paralympic Games is displayed across exhibition walls filled with images and stories. This gives the perfect welcome to the brand’s 92-year heritage, and some of the most important timekeeping innovations that OMEGA has developed in that time.
The discovery then continues inside, where visitors start with an epic film introduction. This stirring beginning lays the foundation for the OMEGA story and invites everyone to step further into the Pavilion, where they can explore numerous areas dedicated to the timekeeping technologies and sporting events at the Olympic Games.
This includes the main Race of Champions experience, where everyone can test their sprinting skills on the 10m running track. After setting themselves in real starting blocks inside the stadium simulation, they’ll be able to digitally compete against real Olympic or Paralympic athletes, and see how their time compares against the best. A video will then be produced of their race that they can share on social media.
Naturally, some of OMEGA’s most important timekeeping equipment will be on display. From the electronic starting pistol through to the new Scan’O’Vision ULTIMATE photofinish camera, each item gives a special insight into modern timekeeping at its most cutting-edge.
In the Locker Room, visitors can get to grips with a real Swimming starting block, while also opening the locker doors to read the biographies of OMEGA’s Olympic and Paralympic ambassadors. Athlete stories are also available to view on dedicated video screens within the Pavilion.
As well as creating an in-depth look at the measurement of Hurdles events, OMEGA has also designed a Swimming Pool room with genuine underwater effects. Here, an in-depth film shows how OMEGA is bringing data measurement into swimming with precise and informative details. Finally, visitors will be able to get a close-up view of OMEGA’s dedicated Paris 2024 watches, and watch the brand’s dynamic advertising TVC in a dedicated viewing room.
The OMEGA Pavilion will be open to the public from 10am to 10pm every day of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes the dates of July 27 – August 11 and Augst 28 to September 8, 2024. Entrance is free.