The Swiss firm has previously partnered with several Commonwealth Games.

The Official Partner status means the Swatch Group-owned brand now has the highest ranking within the Glasgow 2014 commercial programme.

Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith admitted that signing up the first Tier One Partner was a major move for his Organising Committee.

"Longines has a rich heritage of world-class sporting associations dating back more than a century and we are delighted to announce such a prestigious brand as our first Partner," he said.

"This is an important milestone for Glasgow 2014 and the fact we are sharing it with such an excellent global brand underlines the world-class proposition that is Glasgow 2014."


"Longines is proud to be an Official Partner and Official Timekeeper of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and delighted to be the first Partner," said Longines President Walter von Känel.

Glasgow 2014 has already signed up four Official Supporters: Ernst & Young, Harper Macleod, Search Consultancy and Atos.

Longines' existing sporting partnerships include the French Tennis Open, Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, Alpine Ski World Cup and World Championships (pictured above), as well as the Archery World Championships and various top equestrian events.

The brand is closely involved with Swiss Timing, which worked on the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games but was charged over alleged kickbacks contained in a contract it won for the event.

Swiss Timing was one of several companies involved in the corruption scandal at Delhi 2010, which ultimately led to the arrest of the unpopular Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

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