Sports
Omega extends deal with IOC
MUMBAI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced an extension to its current partnership with Omega through 2020, including the XXII Olympic Winter Games (2014) in Sochi, Russia, the Games of the XXXI Olympiad (2016), the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (2018) and the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (2020).
The announcement, made at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, means that Omega will continue as the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, bringing its relationship with the Olympic movement to a total of 29 Olympic Games.
IOC marketing commission chairman Gerhard Heiberg said, “Omega works in close collaboration with our other technology partners to provide integrated technology support to the organising committees of the Olympic Games.”
Omega president Stephen Urquhart added, “Since 1932 the Olympic Games have provided us with a unique platform to convey our message of precision, quality and innovation in a fitting environment.”
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
