Dakar 2026 marks the 4th summer edition of the Youth Olympic Games and signals a historic milestone as the very first Olympic sporting event ever hosted on the African continent.
Between October 31st and November 13th, around 2,700 young athletes, aged up to 17 years old, will contest 153 events in 25 sports, as well as 10 engagement sports including the debut appearances of Baseball5 and Wushu.
Once again, OMEGA will be there to measure each moment as the Official Timekeeper, bringing its renowned expertise to the two weeks of action.
OMEGA’s legacy of Olympic and Paralympic Games timekeeping started in 1932 and has grown to include all of the previous Youth Olympic Games editions, which began in Singapore in 2010.
All of the young athletes will benefit from the brand’s unparalleled experience, precision, and commitment, along with innovative technology that includes essential pieces of equipment such as Photofinish Cameras, the Electronic Starting Pistol, and quartz-driven Quantum Timers.
Away from the field of play, the Youth Olympic Games includes an education programme, which uses a variety of fun and interactive activities, workshops, and team-building exercises to give participating athletes the opportunity to learn about the Olympic values, while exploring other cultures, developing the skills to become ambassadors of their sports, and improving their training methods and performance.
OMEGA Equipment across all Events
Hi-Resolution Scoreboards
Throughout the competition venues in Senegal, OMEGA’s hi-resolution scoreboards will display not only text and live information, but also animations, athlete pictures, and visual imagery. Using modern effects, the winners’ names and results will be boldly displayed for each event.
Quantum Timer
The modern version of a stopwatch. OMEGA’s Quantum Timer has an enhanced resolution of one millionth of a second and is driven by a micro crystal component imbedded in the timer, helping to capture even the closest results in every event.
Vionardo Graphics Technology
The thrilling Olympic Games experience would not be the same without OMEGA’s television graphics. From live timing and scoring, through to final results and athlete information, these live and continuous on-screen displays are now a familiar and essential part of Olympic tele- vision viewing.
Vionardo graphics technology shows graphics in 4K UHD (ultra-high definition), producing extremely clear and captivating graphics in real time.
At Dakar 2026, all of the Vionardo TV graphics will be operated remotely – signalling an innovative leap for an event of this scale. By controlling this essential service from abroad, OMEGA is able to minimize its infrastructure footprint at competition venues and improve sustainability measures.
OMEGA Equipment in Athletics
The Electronic Starting Pistol
An equal start is vital in sports. But the problem with traditional pistols is that athletes in the furthest lanes hear the shot a fraction later than the closest lanes. Today, OMEGA’s electronic pistol is connected to speakers positioned behind each racer. When the trigger is pressed, a light flash is emitted, a start pulse is given to the timing device - and most importantly – a sound is played behind each athlete, giving them all an equal start.
Athletics Starting Blocks
As well as having integrated speakers, the starting blocks in athletics also feature built-in sensors that measure an athlete’s force against the footrest 4,000 times per second. The detection system instantly sends the force measurements to an on-site computer so that the starter can visually see any false start.
Photocell Technology
Instead of the traditional ribbon on the finish line of races, photocell technology emits beams of light. As soon as the winning athlete crosses those beams, their winning time is instantly recorded. OMEGA now uses four photocells on the finish line, all integrated into one unit, allowing more body patterns to be detected. While this gives OMEGA an immediate finishing time, the official time is always taken from the photofinish camera.
The Scan ‘O’ Vision ULTIMATE
Offering the highest resolution of any photofinish camera on the market, the Scan‘O’Vision ULTIMATE can capture up to 40,000 digital images per second on the finish line of races. This makes it as fast as possible for judges to decide the result and separate close finishes with maximum clarity.
How OMEGA times…
1. Starting Blocks
The starting blocks are enhanced with built-in sensors that measure an athlete’s force against the footrest 4,000 times per second. The system signals a false start if the equipment detects a reaction of less than 100 milliseconds after the start.
2. Electronic Starting Pistol
When the trigger is pulled, a start pulse launches the timer, a light is emitted and a sound is generated from a set of external loudspeakers as well as from each starting block to ensure that all the athletes hear the start of the race at the exact same moment.
3. False Start Detection System
Each starting block has built-in sensors that instantly send force measurements to an on-site computer. The software creates a “force curve” so that the time- keeper can visually analyse the reaction and detect any false start.
4. Photocells
Today, OMEGA has integrated four photocells into one unit. They emit beams of light across the finish line that stop time as soon as the first competitor crosses. This gives racers, judges and spectators a precise understanding of the winner’s recorded time.
5. Photofinish Camera
Each runner’s image is captured by OMEGA’s photofinish camera as he or she crosses the finish line. It is this information that the judges use to officially determine the champion of each race.
6. Photofinish Image
Timekeepers use this final image to determine official results. The time is measured in line with the position of the athlete’s torso. Incidentally, there are devices that also measure wind during the race. If a record is broken, it can only be officially registered if the wind is blowing at less than 2m per second.
…the 100m in athletics
OMEGA Equipment in Swimming
Swimming Starting Blocks
Each starting block has false start detection systems and acoustic start devices to ensure each competitor hears the start signal at the exact same moment. The OMEGA backstroke ledge also improves the push and trajectory for backstroke swimmers, by enabling the competitor to take a higher position in respect to the water level at the start phase. The height of the backstroke ledge can be adjusted to several different positions so that each competitor can select their preferred angle.
Touchpads
At the end of a swimming race, the famous touchpads positioned at both ends of the pool allow swimmers to “stop the clock” by exerting a pressure of between 1.5 and 2.5 kg (3.3 and 5.5 pounds). It’s the most precise way to measure time in this challenging sport and provides the official results.
High-Speed Cameras
Positioned above the water, OMEGA’s high-speed cameras can be used by judges if any disputes arise.
Swimming Light Show
The Swimming Light Show features lights mounted on the starting blocks at the end of the pool. When a race is over, a single large dot indicates the athlete that came first, two medium-sized dots show who came second, and three smaller dots of light confirm the third place finisher. It’s a perfect way for athletes and spectators to instantly see the outcome of a race.
How OMEGA times…
1. Starting Block
The adjustable footrest enables the swimmer to dive into the water at an ideal angle.
2. Loudspeaker
Integrated loudspeakers on each starting block emit the start signal simultaneously so that all the racers hear the start at the exact same moment.
3. Sensors
Sensors measure the swimmers’ reaction times following the start signal and help indicate a false start.
4. Microphone Device
A start pulse is given to the timing system when the button is pushed.
5. High-Speed Camera
High-speed cameras take and send 100 images each second to the timekeepers in the control room. They serve as a back-up system only, in case the touch-pad results are missing or too soft.
6. Touchpads
As the swimmers return towards the finish, time is stopped by their own hands. A force of 1.5 – 2.5 kg against the touch-pad is enough to immediately stop the clock.
…the 100m in swimming
