The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Omega, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, announced in London Tuesday the extension of their partnership to include the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Omega, Official Timekeeper for the Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010 Games, brings to six the number of world-wide partners who have already committed to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

IOC President Jacques Rogge welcomed today’s announcement and Omega’s continued commitment and contribution to the Olympic Movement.

“Turin was a magnificent Games, not just for the athletes and the Olympic Movement, but for our partners. Omega’s contribution to the Games was significant – in ensuring accurate and reliable timekeeping”, Rogge said.

“Our relationship with Omega goes back to 1932, when the IOC turned to a single company to provide official timekeeping at the Olympic Games. Today, Omega works closely with all our technology partners to provide seamless technology support to the Organising Committee.”

Omega President Stephen Urquhart said, “We are delighted to return to London as Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games. London represents a wealth of tradition and a confident vision of the future. We are pleased to bring our own valued traditions and confidence to London 2012, and look forward to helping the city prepare to host the Olympic Games.”

For IOC Marketing Commission Chairman Gerhard Heiberg, the announcement of the Omega partnership to include the London 2012 Games shows the strength of the Olympic marketing programme.

“We currently have 12 world-wide partners for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and six of those have extended to Vancouver 2010 and London 2012”, Heiberg said.

“The knowledge and expertise our partners bring to an Organising Committee is invaluable, especially our technology partners such as Omega.”

World-wide Partners confirmed for Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 are: Coca-Cola, Atos Origin, GE, McDonalds, Omega and Visa.

IOC