With generations of experience as a timekeeper for world championships in sport and as a partner of international sports federations, Longines is proud to be associated with Glasgow 2014, the XX Commonwealth Games, as an Official Partner and to bring its timekeeping expertise to the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland. The Swiss watch brand will provide the On Venue Results (OVR) service that includes the handling, the processing and the broadcasting of the official times and scores of the different sport events. 

Although being a relative notion, the importance of time is no less than paramount for many sports. Time has however different magnitudes across the various different disciplines represented in the Games. In racing sports, such as Athletics, Swimming, and Cycling, it is seen as a challenge to beat and the ultimate goal is to break previous records. Innovation and cutting edge technology are the key words in timekeeping for these disciplines.

Time also impacts on a number of other sports including Boxing, Hockey, Gymnastics, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens and Wrestling; where time as a measure acts either as a frame for the performance or may result in penalties contributing to the athlete’s final result. The scheduling of each competition also relies heavily on time; for an athlete to be able to prepare for each event and perform at their best during the Games.

Timekeeping itself is nevertheless only a modest part in the global picture and Longines is proud to rely on its long-lasting experience in complete data handling for Glasgow 2014. Any score, distance, name, team, ranking and time requires technology to instantly process and distribute it as TV graphics for television networks providing viewers with extensive information throughout the competition, as scoreboards and displays spread around the different sporting venues, as a Commentator’s Information System (CIS) making available to rights holding broadcasters comprehensive information about the competitions, statistics and results, as printouts for the International Federations, the competition Officials and the media and to the central results system. 

The Official Watch of Glasgow 2014 will be a chronograph in steel from the Conquest Classic collection, housing an exclusive mechanical column-wheel calibre. With a diameter of 41 mm, its black dial is set with one arabic numeral and 11 applied indices with Super-LumiNova®. It displays the hours and the minutes, a small second at 9, a 30-minute counter at 3, a 12-hour counter at 6 as well as the date at 4:30. Just as the entire Conquest Classic collection, this timepiece is water-resistant to 5 bar and its screw-down case back is fitted with a sapphire glass.

Since 1878, Longines has been developing various types of technology for timing different disciplines with increasing precision. As early as the last quarter of the 19th century, Longines was producing chronographs and timed performances at numerous competitions. The company acquired a remarkable fund of experience in an infinite variety of sporting activities, at all levels of competition. 

Today, Longines follows its vocation in the field of sports timekeeping, namely in equestrian sports (show-jumping, flat racing and endurance competitions), gymnastics (trampoline, aerobic and acrobatic), archery, alpine skiing, at the French Open at Roland-Garros and at Glasgow 2014, the XX Commonwealth Games. 

Longines’ involvement in the Commonwealth Games dates back to 1962, when it was the Timekeeper of the event in Perth, Australia.