Swiss watchmaker Omega is in the midst of an international advertising blitz telling the world it’s ready for the Olympics, which opens in less than two weeks in Brazil.  

As the official timekeeper of the Games, Omega’s campaign for Rio 2016 comprises a series of print, retail, digital and television commercials featuring four of the brand’s Olympic brand ambassadors including Michael Phelps, Chad le Clos, Sergio Garcia and Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Under the headline “Recording Olympic Dreams Since 1932”, the campaign reflects Omega’s long history of timekeeping at the Olympics and its dedication to supporting and recording the dreams of all competitors who strive for glory.

Rio 2016 will be the 27th time that Omega has fulfilled the official timekeeper role. Over the past 84 years, the brand has evolved and revolutionised the equipment that athletes depend on and has recorded every result with tremendous precision and expertise. 

The advertising has been produced with a “double exposure” design. This layered theme allows the viewer to see inside the minds of the athletes, to watch their dreams build and get a sense of the motivation that fuels their performances.

British heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia, South African swimmer Chad le Clos and American swimmer Michael Phelps were used as the central figures in each advertisement. Three of the athletes are gold medallists, with Phelps being the most decorated Olympian of all time.

For an added dreamlike quality, the music used in the television campaign has been recorded by a young boy. The song Hall of Fame, originally recorded by The Script, has been reimagined to reflect the dreams that drive many athletes from a young age. This sentiment was particularly made clear when Phelps spoke to Omega during filming: “When I started this journey in 2000, did I think I would be sitting where I am today? No. But I dreamt it. I believed that I could get there and I never gave up. I was only 15, but I sat down with my agent and told him that I wanted to change the sport of swimming.” 

The world’s greatest sporting event, Rio 2016 will run from August 5 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro.