Omega has implemented new technology during the open water swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships ©FINA

Swiss watchmaker Omega has implemented new technology with the aim of boosting the excitement of open water swimming events at the ongoing International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.

As the official timekeeper of the competition, Omega will aid around 2,300 athletes in all six disciplines - swimming, water polo, diving, open water swimming, high diving and synchronised swimming.

In the open water competition, the company are using new technology which, it is claimed, "heightens the excitement for spectators back on shore".

The timekeeping team have two unique buoys at their disposal which they are able to place at two selected points around the course.

Each buoy contains an antenna, which can pick up signals from special transponders that each swimmer wears on their wrist.

As the swimmers pass the buoys, their intermediate times are sent back to timekeepers who will display the times for spectators on scoreboards. 

The system gives viewers a full understanding of the race as it happens.

"The new technology that Omega is introducing for the open water events in Budapest will make the sport a lot easier to follow," said Omega chief executive Alain Zobrist.

"Until now, it has been quite a challenge for spectators to know exactly what is going on.

"But we have an exciting system in place now that will make a lot of the positioning and athlete motions much clearer during the actual race."

Omega place two unique buoys which can pick up signals from special transponders that each swimmer wears on their wrist ©FINA
Omega place two unique buoys which can pick up signals from special transponders that each swimmer wears on their wrist ©FINA

The new technology works in tandem with Omega’s Open Water Gate which has been used in competition for several years.

When the athlete touches the gate at the finish of a race, their transponder registers the impact and their time is stopped for an accurate result.

Yesterday's competition in the Hungarian capital saw the first open water swimming event of the Championships.

France’s Marc-Antoine Olivier claimed gold in the men's five kilometre event on Lake Balaton.

In May, Omega extended its partnership with the International Olympic Committee through to 2032.

The extension marks 100 years since the start of Omega's relationship with the Olympic Games, which dates back to Los Angeles 1932.

Omega, a part of the Switzerland-based Swatch Group, has served as official timekeeper at the Olympic Games on 27 occasions.

It is a member of The Olympic Partner programme.