On May 3, 2023, ahead of the second Miami Grand Prix™, IWC Schaffhausen invited a group of famous athletes and celebrities to compete with seven-time Formula One™ world champion Lewis Hamilton on the basketball court.
The “IWC Chrono Challenge” organized in collaboration with Miami-based non-profit charity, Dibia DREAM, marked the first of several events during IWC’s three-day takeover of Jungle Plaza in the heart of the iconic Miami Design District.
The “IWC Chrono Challenge” saw two teams competing against each other in three different basketball skill challenges. “Team Pink” was led by seven-time Formula One™ world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, who was joined by Hollywood actor James Marsden and former professional football player Antrel Rolle.
Canadian actor and ‘Barbie Movie’ star Simu Liu, American Olympic skateboarder Jagger Eaton and Dibia DREAM founder and CEO Brandon Okpalobi formed the opposing “Team Green.”
Discussing the IWC Chrono Challenge event Lewis Hamilton said
“I think it’s really really great that and we’ve got all these kids here and I think it’s great what IWC is doing. It is so important to be supporting the future of the world.”
He continued, “I love basketball, I’ve always been a huge fan. It’s probably my favorite sport, so to have an event where that’s incorporated in it is pretty cool.”
THREE BASKETBALL SKILL CHALLENGES
In the first challenge, players had to dribble and jump towards the basket, trying to achieve as many layups as possible in 60 seconds.
Next, the competitors attempted to score as many free throws as they could in a 30-seconds beat-the-buzzer challenge.
Finally, two players took turns shooting from several defined spots on the court. For each ball landing in the basket, they received one letter to spell out the word “Chrono” – a playful reference to the recently-launched chronograph.
F1TM legend David Coulthard hosted the event, supported by former college basketball athlete and Laureus USA Program Officer Tiffany Aidoo.
Hollywood actress Monica Barbaro was responsible for keeping the score and the exact timekeeping of the challenges.
Photos by: Jason Koerner/Getty Images for IWC)About Dibia DREAM
Founded in 2014, Dibia DREAM provides a safe place after school, on the weekends and in the summer with caring, responsible role models and engaging activities. Dibia DREAM was created to spark social change through hands-on, engaging STEM education for historically underserved youth and their families. Over 40,000 scholars worldwide have engaged with the nonprofit in-person or online. Its programs use STEM and sports as instruments to teach life skills and promote mentorship, active participation, and exposure to diverse opportunities through its 5 pillar program. The goal is to enrich youth across the world through transformative experiences.
About IWC Schaffhausen
IWC Schaffhausen is a leading Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Schaffhausen in the north-eastern part of Switzerland. With collections like the Portugieser and the Pilot’s Watches, the brand covers the whole spectrum from elegant to sports watches.
Founded in 1868 by the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones, IWC is known for its unique engineering approach to watchmaking, combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge technology and processes.
Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust, and easy for customers to use. Along the pillars of transparency, circularity, and responsibility, the brand crafts timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improves every element of how it manufactures, distributes, and services its products in the most responsible way. IWC also partners with organizations that work globally to support children and young people.