Hublot - The countdown clocks
Wednesday 12 June, on Copacabana Beach, an impressive array of celebrities and Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot, jointly unveil one of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ stand-out symbols: the official countdown clock - at exactly T minus 365 days to the kick-off of the world's largest single-sport event.
The clock in Rio is one of three countdown clocks which will grace Brazil for the next year. The other two are installed on the prestigious Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, in Sao Paulo, and right next to the TV tower in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil and the city that is a testament to Oscar Niemeyer's architectural design.
These clocks, commissioned especially from Hublot for Brazil, are also the last project to have been personally led by Oscar Niemeyer, the great Brazilian architect, prior to his passing in December 2012.
At the time, in late 2011, a first meeting was arranged between Oscar Niemeyer, FIFA and Hublot, in the architect's studio on the Copacabana. The chemistry was there instantly and it was with great enthusiasm that Oscar Niemeyer outlined the involvement he was looking forward to having with a project directly related to the FIFA World Cup being held in his country. As a tribute to the great man, Hublot created a Limited Edition Big Bang Oscar Niemeyer watch following this first encounter.
Hublot is the Official Timekeeper and the Official Watch of the 2014 FIFA Football World Cup Brazil - as well as of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil, which will be held from 15 to 30 June.