Titled 'Glorious Runner', this maxi watch (over-sized wristwatch) was designed by Swatch, the Swiss watchmakers, as a sample of their official Olympic merchandise. The Trafficking Department, a division of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG), approved this and other samples for production, ensuring that these items correctly represented the names, colours, logos and other elements of SOCOG branding. As official Olympic timekeeper and a major Olympic sponsor, Swatch was one of a limited number of companies entitled to include this branding on its merchandise.

Glorious Runner was one of twenty styles in the Swatch Olympic range and its limited edition of three hundred pieces was marketed exclusively in Australia. Its design is typical of the Swatch watch style, combining a transparent watchband and face with a varicoloured motif - in this case, the Sydney 2000 trademark depicting a stylised athlete in dots and boomerangs. Standing at 2.4 metres, it complements a second maxi watch in the Powerhouse Collection. (Swatch donated this additional maxi watch, a lap bell and a Sydney 2000 countdown clock to the Museum shortly after the Games.)

Comprising Omega and 15 other watch-making companies, the Swatch Group has held its position as Official Olympic timekeeper since 1932, and has so gained unrivalled experience in timing Olympic events. From mid 1999 onwards, the Swatch Timing Crew of 250 technicians installed and maintained timing devices throughout Sydney Olympic venues. These devises included lap bells, scoreboards, photo-finish cameras and micro terminals for recording timing data.

This maxi watch design is typical of the Swatch watch style, combining a transparent watchband and face with a varicoloured motif - in this case, the Sydney 2000 trademark depicting a stylised athlete in dots and boomerangs. The Australian company, FHA Design Ltd., developed this trademark in 1998.

This maxi watch was manufactured by Swatch in around 2000 as a sample of their official Olympic merchandise. It is made from plastic and mechanical components.

This maxi watch (over-sized wristwatch) was submitted by Swatch to the SOCOG Trafficking Department as a sample of their official Olympic merchandise. The Department approved the sample, leading to a limited edition of three hundred identical items.

Owned by the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and donated to the Powerhouse Museum after the Games.

Watch, maxi, 'Glorious Runner', plastic/metal, Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000, Olympic Games posters, made and designed by Swatch, Switzerland 2000

Watch, Swatch Glorious Runner with box. Oversize wristwatch wall clock with a clear plastic watch face and plastic wristband featuring the Sydney 2000 logo and the Olympic rings. The watch is packed into a large cardboard box and comes with an instruction booklet.

Made: 2000

2001/84/309

2000