Christophe Berthaud, the general manager of OMEGA Timing presents Sir Philip Craven with an OMEGA Seamaster Vancouver 2010 Limited Edition watch

Sir Philip Craven, the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), visited OMEGA’s Paralympic Countdown Clock in downtown Vancouver and the Olympic Games Boutique at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Tuesday, March 16th.

Sir Philip, joined by his wife, was welcomed by Christophe Berthaud, the general manager of OMEGA Timing, the company responsible for the timekeeping and data handling at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Berthaud introduced Sir Philip, who has been president of the IPC since 2001, to the Boutique’s staff who showed him some of the highlights of their display, including the Constellation ’09 Collection, the Olympic Pocket Watch 1932, the Seamaster Vancouver 2010 Limited Edition watch created to commemorate the Games, and the Speedmaster Professional – the legendary Moonwatch.

Afterwards, Sir Philip signed OMEGA’s guestbook and Christophe Berthaud presented him with a commemorative Olympic Pin Set and an OMEGA Seamaster Vancouver 2010 Limited Edition watch. Sir Philip and Mr. Berthaud then posed for photographs with members of the Boutique’s staff and chatted with visitors and well wishers.

In addition to his high-profile role as president of the IPC, Sir Philip Craven is one of the most successful Paralympians of all time, having represented Great Britain in wheelchair basketball at five editions of the Paralympic Games between 1972 and 1988. Remarkably, in 1972, he also competed in track and field athletics and swimming.

The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games opened on the 12th of March and will continue through the 21st of March.