Beijing 2008: Grand Opening of Omega Pavilion

The Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing is to take place on August 8, 2008. Prior to the notable event, the Omega Company held the Grand Opening of the Omega Pavilion on the Olympic Green, on August 4.

Omega watch aficionados are well-aware that the brand's successful partnership with the Olympic Games started in 1932 with the Games in Los Angeles. Since then, the official timekeeper of the Games has repeatedly demonstrated great competence, deep commitment and utmost performance relevant to the field of precision timekeeping.

The Omega Pavilion greatly impresses by its vast exhibition area and most noteworthy exhibits. Occupying 2,500 square meters, the Pavilion is located on two floors. Besides the exhibition area, the visitors are invited to the brand's boutique. There is also a stage for holding special events.

Among the exhibits, the visitors will discover iconic Omega watches, along with the brand's timekeeping equipment introduced to the world of sports over the past several decades. The Pavilion welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the Olympic Games.

The Opening Ceremony was attended by Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek and Omega President Stephen Urquhart, along with Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee. Among the visitors of the ceremony there were numerous members of the international press and world-famous celebrities.

Four Omega brand ambassadors were invited to the ceremony: Olympic multiple gold medallists Alexander Popov and Ian Thorpe, speedskater Yang Yang, the first Chinese sportsman to win a gold medal at a Winter Olympic Games and shooter Xu Haifeng, the first Chinese gold medallist at a Summer Olympic Games.


Jacques Rogge walked around the Pavilion, wearing a white watchmaker's coat, and was even invited to try his hand at mechanical Watchmaking, assisted by an Omega master watchmaker. The IOC president also experimented with a model of the pilot's controls for the Solar Impulse, a great project supported by the Omega Company. The project's goal is to circumnavigate the globe in a sun-powered airplane. Then, Mr. Rogge was invited to the Omega rowing exhibition where he took up the oars together with Nick Hayek.