The Enduring Partnership: Longines and the Commonwealth Games

A Legacy of Precision: 64 Years of Longines at the Commonwealth Games

Since 1962, when the event was known as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Longines has been the official timekeeper. This year, as Glasgow stepped in to host after Victoria withdrew, the partnership proved its resilience. With over 150 team members and 200 tonnes of equipment, Longines and Swiss Timing seamlessly managed timing for swimming, athletics, and more.

The Role of Swiss Timing

Swiss Timing, a Swatch Group company, was established in 1972, building on the expertise of Longines and Omega. It serves as a hub for timekeeping technology across multiple brands, including Longines, Omega, Certina, Tissot, and Swatch. This collaboration ensures no overlap in sports, yet allows for shared innovations. For instance, photo-finish cameras have improved from 10,000 to 40,000 lines per second since 2022, guaranteeing decisive results in every race.

Beyond the Finish Line: Athletes, Commentators, and AI

Longines and Swiss Timing work closely with athletes, coaches, and even commentators. In skiing, sensors developed for downhill events were extended to other disciplines at the request of athletes, enhancing their training data. For broadcasters, all timing data is delivered in under a tenth of a second, even with multiple events running simultaneously. Since 2018, AI has been integral, from calculating ski jump trajectories at the PyeongChang Olympics to processing real-time results.

Measuring Success: Awareness vs. Invisibility

For Swiss Timing CEO Alain Zobrist, success means staying unnoticed—no 'severity one' incidents, no errors. For Longines' VP of Marketing Christina Hentschel, it's about raising awareness and driving sales. This year, Longines House in Glasgow showcased the brand's history, from a 1912 stopwatch timing to 1/100th of a second to modern laser finish lines, reinforcing their mastery of sports timing.

What Keeps the Partnership Going?

The longevity of this partnership stems from Longines' consistent delivery of cutting-edge technology and the games' platform for reaching a global audience. As the games continue to challenge, Longines and Swiss Timing rise to the occasion, making every event a showcase of precision and innovation.