The academy is organised by the Park World Tour Organisation in cooperation with the International Orienteering Federation and O-Ringen, and it provides a unique opportunity for orienteering federations and interested individuals to work on developing the sport in their home countries.
The idea behind O-Ringen Academy is, through the transfer of knowledge and experience, to develop individual competency to be able to promote, organize and teach orienteering and at the same time participate in O-Ringen.
Happy participants at O-Ringen Academy.
O-Ringen Academy is primarily intended for participants from new and developing orienteering countries, where there is a need to quickly learn the skills and routines required to organize orienteering events.
However, participants from more established orienteering nations who want to increase their base of knowledge are also welcome.
Find the bulletin and all the details about applying here – the application deadline for participation is April 30th.
The IOF will give some financial support to participation in O-Ringen Academy for applicants from an orienteering developing country or a country which is not yet a member of the IOF.
Applications for IOF scholarship for O-Ringen Academy 2024 must be submitted by April 1st.
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Click here to go to the page with the handbook.
The reader will find in the book a wealth of information and suggestions that will prove useful for the organisation of events large and small. The book is useful for orienteering clubs but also to partners in the fields of mobility, accommodation, energy and water provisioning, waste management, as well as to municipal authorities and sponsors.
The emphasis is on timely planning, open communication, learning by doing, continuous improvement. Many tips and suggestions address common challenges and issues that may emerge along the way. Finally, a simple and clear guide to the calculation of carbon emission is provided in plain language, that makes the process logic understandable by non-professionals.
]]>The distinctive red and white logo appears at run-up sections and on backdrops at World and European Championships and both major MTBO championships and the MTBO World Cup carry the name CX80.
The athletes follow the red and white CX80 marks after the World Cup relay start in Østfold, Norway in 2023. Photo: Snorre Veggan
CX80 was founded in 1991 and produces highest quality technical chemistry products like: multifunctional products, specialized greases, high-performance lubricants, adhesives, sealants and many other specialised chemicals.
The company has been an official partner of the International Orienteering Federation since 2020, but what you may not know is that CX80 is at the same time a partner of the Polish Orienteering Federation.
“CX80 is the main sponsor of the Polish Orienteering Federation. Beside the strong financial support that goes primarily to our national teams in both FootO and MTBO, CX80 products appear as prizes to many national events. The company also takes uncoventional paths and supplies fruit on the finish lines for all runners at some races. Polish Orienteering is definitely a better place thanks to CX80,” says Wojciech Dwojak, member of the board in Polish OF.
Joins trainings in bad weather
And for the Polish national team athletes, it is also clear that the CX80 is a partner that involves itself more than the average.
Oleksandr Kratov has experienced this in his role as coach for Poland’s FootO national team.
“I have seen a more personal level of support, eg. when the head of CX80 Dariusz Nadera is taking part in some of our trainings and chatting with the runners. CX80 supports some of them directly and some are supported via the federation. I think it is really cool when head of the company stays true to the fun of our sport and easily can join a night training in bad weather. It sends a good signal to elite runners as well as youngsters,“ Kratov points out.
CX80 banners at the European MTB Orienteering Championships in Lithuania in 2022. Photo: Donatas Lazauskas
Although it may not happen every day that a partner chooses to cooperate with both a national federation and an international federation within the same sport, it makes perfect sense for CX80.
CX80 CEO Dariusz Nadera explains:
“Partnering with the Polish Orienteering Federation and the International Orienteering Federation definitely provides CX80 increased brand visibility and access to a targeted audience interested in orienteering. It also gives invaluable networking opportunities within the orienteering community, and potential collaborations on events or initiatives that align with CX80’s goals. Additionally, it enhances the company’s image by showcasing a commitment to supporting sports and community activities,” Dariusz Nadera says.
In 2022, IOF and CX80 decided to strengthen tehir partnership with the current agreement, that runs until the end of 2024.
It meant that IOF’s major MTBO events are called CX80 World/European MTB Orienteering Championships and the CX80 MTBO World Cup continues to carry the company name.
In addition, the partners agreed to work on expanding the knowledge and awareness of CX80 and its products through various channels and events.
Eager to kick off events together
And in the coming time, CX80 will have a great chance to showcase the company and its products, as Poland hosts the CX80 MTBO European Championships and World Cup from 29th May – 2nd June this summer and the CX80 World MTBO Championships in August next year.
Poland is also hosting the European Youth Orienteering Championships in the end of June.
And IOF looks forward to fullfill the strengthened partnership agreement and lift the upcoming events to new heights together with CX80 and the Polish Orienteering Federation.
“CX80 continue to impress us with their longstanding commitment to orienteering. The double partnership gives us a unique opportunity to work with activation on events and joint initiatives, that are beneficial to all parties. It also aligns perfectly with IOF’s strategic directions to improve the performance and sustainability of the IOF and the member federations. We can’t wait to kick off the coming events together with CX80 and the Polish Federation,” IOF CEO Henrik Eliasson says.
IOF, Polish OF and CX80 meet regularly to discuss further cooperation. This photo is from a meeting in 2022.
From left: Igor Błachut (chairman of the Polish MTBO Commission and member of IOF MTBO Commission), Wojciech Dwojak (Councilmember in Polish OF), Henrik Eliasson (CEO of IOF), Łukasz Charuba (chairman of the Polish OF) and Dariusz Nadera (CEO of CX80).
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From left: Balázs Kovács, President of the Hungarian Orienteering Federation, Henrik Eliasson, CEO of IOF and Attila Varsányi, representative of the organising club, Veszprém Honvéd Sports Club.
In addition to the focus on WOC 2027, information was shared about the other major events that Hungary will host in the coming time: European Orienteering Championships in less than half a year and the World Trail Orienteering Championships (together with Slovakia) in 2025.
All contracts for these events are signed and the work of organising them have already begun.
“Hungary has been hosting important international orienteering events many times in the past, and their long term strategy of building and transfer knowledge through major events internally is impressive. One major goal for this upcoming period is to reach out with the sport on a wider basis in Hungary through live TV coverage. In the coming years the results from the effort of the Hungarian Federation and the organising clubs will be visible to the rest of the world. We really look forward to this, says IOF CEO, Henrik Eliasson.
During the meeting that took place in the Hungarian House of Sports in Budapest, IOF Council member László Zentai was awarded a distinction by the Hungarian Federation for his many years of work in IOF’s Council and commissions.
László Zentai and IOF CEO, Henrik Eliasson.
Magdalena Olsson ahead of Elin Schagerström (both SWE) in Saturday’s pursuit race in Estonia. Photo by Reigo Teervalt.
Olsson took second place in all three races in Estonia, but she won gold medals in Sprint and Pursuit in the World Championships in Austria in January. A very competent orienteer as well as a good skier, Olsson’s consistency has counted towards her overall win.
Second is the Norwegian Anna Ulvensøen, fifth in 2023, who ended 70 points down on Olsson. This strong athlete also has two victories this season, the Middle race in Austria and the Pursuit in Estonia. Previous champion Daisy Kudre Schnyder, Estonia and winner of the last race in the series ends up third in the standings.
Jørgen Baklid (NOR) in difficult conditions during the middle distance race in Estonia. Photo by Reigo Teervalt.
Baklid’s win this year is by 60 points over the still-improving 21-year-old Niklas Ekström, Finland. Baklid won three individual gold medals in the World Championships but none of the races in Estonia, whilst Ekström has again had a very successful season, winning two of the Estonia races (Sprint and Pursuit) and becoming double U-23 World Champion too.
The Swiss skier Nicola Müller has moved up 6 places from last year and finishes third, 10 points ahead of the highly experienced Bulgarian Stanimir Belomazhev.
In the U-23 World Cup, Niklas Ekström and Maria Hoskari have dominated the men’s and women’s lists respectively, both scoring 360 points from 4 races.
The Team World Cup, with points scored over 13 races in all, was won by Norway. Finland was close at the end to catching second-placed Sweden, finishing just 3 points down.
SkiO World Cup: top end-of-season positions
Photo by Reigo Teervalt.
Women
Photo by Reigo Teervalt.
Men
U-23 World Cup (4 races)
Women
Men
Team Norway celebrates Team World Cup-title. Photo by Reigo Teervalt
Team World Cup (13 races)
Ella Turesson, Sweden was an early leader in the women’s race over 8.8 km, held on a mild, cloudy day with snow beginning to disappear in some open spots and quite mushy elsewhere. As in the Pursuit, good route choice was a key to success, and on some legs there were several alternatives on the tracks and many small paths in the moderately hilly terrain.
Daisy Kudre Schnyder invariably chose the best routes and was skiing strongly, whilst her closest challengers made a number of small errors. “I had a problem throughout with a loose map-holder,” she said, “but I enjoyed the race. I was very careful not to lose focus on the map today. In the World Championship races I was too focused on results and got in a bad mood when I didn’t do well, but here I have managed to be more focused on my own performance.” She finished 0.42 ahead of Magdalena Olsson, Sweden, and third place went to Anna Ulvensøen, Norway, yesterday’s winner.
Photo: Reigo Teervalt
The very consistent young athlete Maria Hoskari, Finland took gold in the U-23 World Championships, with silver going to Aasne Haavengen, Norway and bronze to Ella Turesson.
Eevert Toivonen, who started 2 minutes after Baklid, was 17 seconds down on Baklid at the second-last control, but took a far quicker track route to the last control and, urged on by his Finnish team-mates, sustained a very long sprint to the finish line to get ahead of Baklid by just 1 second. Earlier in the race it was Niklas Ekström, already with 2 victories here, who seemed most likely to better Baklid’s time, but he fell away towards the end and finished fourth. Third place was taken by another Finn, Aapo Viippola, 1.03 down on the winner.
Photo: Reigo Teervalt
This was 26-year-old Toivonen’s first World Cup victory. “My legs started shaking a bit at the arena passage when I heard I was second,” he said, “but I steadied myself and made no mistakes after that. When I heard my team-mates shouting, I realized there was something on here and gave it all I’d got!”
Niklas Ekström’s fourth place ensured him the gold medal in the U-23 World Championships. Silver went to Olle Ilmar Jaama, Estonia and bronze to Tuomas Outinen, Finland.
So ends the 2024 international SkiO season, in both rounds not blessed overall with the best conditions for skiing. The Estonian organisers had to work hard, first in moving the Sprint venue and then preparing adequate tracks for the three races. The courses were were well planned and very challenging, and the organizing team can look back on a very successful three days of competition.
Leading results, Middle distance
Women
Men
Ekström and Ulvensøen are both second in the World Cup standings and have narrowed the gap to the leaders today, with Ekström now only 45 points behind Jørgen Baklid, Norway ahead of the final Middle Distance race tomorrow, and Ulvensøen 85 points behind Sweden’s Magdalena Olsson.
The men’s race was first on a misty, cloudy day with little wind and slow skiing conditions. Finland’s Aapo Viippola, third yesterday, had a shorter early forking and took a good early lead. Some long legs with plentiful route choice led to many changes of position, but it was Viippola who began the second loop in the lead by 15 seconds over Ekström. The Swiss athlete Nicola Müller was with Ekström for much of the second loop, and they were challenged by Jonatan Ståhl, Sweden and Jørgen Baklid with different forking, with Viippola also still very much in the race. All the leaders converged at the second TV control, but it was Müller in the lead at the end of loop 2.
As loop 3 progressed it became clear that Ekström was skiing strongly and getting away from the others, and he made no mistake in the final section to come in with a comfortable victory. Behind him, a frantic sprint ended with Viippola just ahead of Müller and Baklid. There was then a big gap down to the Bulgarian Stanimir Belomazhev in fifth place and Eeevert Toivonen, the third Finnish athlete in the top six.
The women’s race was equally exciting with many changes of position. Anna Ulvensøen, third yesterday, got an early lead and finished the first loop ahead of Magdalena Olsson. The Sprint winner Judita Traubaite, Lithuania had a slow start but pulled back to second place at one stage, and Elin Schagerström, Sweden had a particularly impressive first half of the race, moving up several places to third.
Ulvensøen came to the end of loop 2 a few seconds ahead of World Cup leader Magdalena Olsson, Sweden, but had a slower first forking on the final loop. Towards the end they were both together and a sprint for the win was on the cards, but crucially, Olsson fell on the downhill between the second-last and last controls, giving Ulvensøen victory by 8 seconds. Daisy Kudre Schnyder on home terrain worked very hard to come up to third place 2.18 down on the winner, gaining 2 places on her starting position, and Schagerström finished fourth. Traubaite had some route choice problems but fought hard to get into fifth place, and for the second day running Maria Hoskari, Finland was sixth. The winning time was more than 6 minutes down on the estimated winning time due to the heavy skiing conditions.
Photos: Reigo Teervalt
The terrain was undulating, no big hills but a lot of detail with some flatter areas with lakes and marshes. There was a big variety of roads, tracks and paths giving some complex and varied route choice challenges, leading to many competitors losing time at one stage or another. Fascinating to watch all the route choice variations and small mistakes on the GPS tracking shown on IOF TV!
Tomorrow’s Middle distance is the final World Cup race of the SkiO season, the women’s race starting at 10.00 and the men’s at 10.45 (UTC+2). It will televised on IOF TV from 10.20.
Leading results
Women
Men
Team World Cup
Finland has gained good points on Norway and Sweden today and the gap up to Sweden is now only 6 points.
Scores with two races left (men’s and women’s Middle):
Norway 197 points
Sweden 165
Finland 159
Switzerland 150
]]>The event consists of three individual races, that all count in the Ski Orienteering World Cup and today’s challenge was a sprint race of 3,5 and 3,9 kilometers for women and men respectively.
Judita Traubaite was one of the first ahtletes in the ski tracks this morning, as she started fourth out of the 44 participants in the women’s class.
And after 18:26 minutes on her skis, the 23-year-old Lithuanian took the lead that would last all the way through the race.
The current World Cup-leader Magdalena Olsson (SWE) was 5 seconds slower in second position, with her biggest rival to the overall title, Anna Ulvensøen (NOR) 5 seconds further behind in third.
Women’s top 3. Photo by Reigo Teervalt
Niklas Ekström took an even more superior win in the men’s class, where the 21-year-old Finn beat Stanimir Belomazhev (BUL) by 10 seconds and was joined by compatriot Aapo Vippola on the podium in third sport.
Jørgen Baklid (NOR), who leads the overall World Cup after three golds at WSOC, came in fourth and had rival Nicola Müller (SUI) just behind him in fifth place.
Men’s top 3. Photo by Reigo Teervalt
Dive into today’s results at IOF LIVE
Commanding leads in the World Cup
In the overall World Cup standings, Magdalena Olsson now leads by 105 points to Anna Ulvensøen. Behind them Elin Schagerström (SWE) climbed to third spot as she overtook Linda Lindkvist (SWE), who will not race in Estonia due to illness.
Jørgen Baklid still has a huge lead in the men’s class, but Niklas Ekström jumped to second spot after his win today. He is 95 points behind the Norwegian. Nicola Müller holds third place, just 10 points further down.
U23 golds for Sweden and Finland
The first U23 SkiO World Champions of the year were also crowned and Sweden’s Ella Turesson won today’s sprint gold medal after finishing fourth among the women. Maria Hoskari and Amanda Yli Futka (both FIN) followed on the subsequent positions.
Niklas Ekström is still just 21 and won his U23 gold by more than a minute. Last year he and Jonatan Ståhl (SWE) tied for the U23 sprint gold, but today Ståhl had to settle for silver with another Finn, Toumas Outinen grabbing the bronze two seconds behind Ståhl.
Pursuit race on IOF TV
Today’s results decide the start lists for Saturday’s long distance pursuit race, where Niklas Ekström will lead the way for the men’s class at 10:30 EET (UTC+2) and Judita Traubaite begins at 11:45 in the women’s.
IOF TV starts the broadcast at 10:20 (UTC+2), with English commentary by Linus Rapp.
Top results:
Women
1 Judita Traubaite, LTU 18:26
2 Magdalena Olsson, SWE + 0:05
3 Anna Ulvensøen, NOR + 0:10
4 Ella Turesson, SWE + 0:47
5 Daisy Kudre Schnyder, EST + 0:48
6 Maria Hoskari, FIN + 1:11
Men
1 Niklas Ekström, FIN 17:17
2 Stanimir Belomazhev, BUL + 0:10
3 Aapo Viippola, FIN + 0:17
4 Jørgen Baklid, NOR + 0:25
5 Nicola Müller, SUI + 0:55
6 Eevert Toivonen, FIN +1:01
This year’s survey covers both the athletes view on the sustainability of current IOF events and suggestions to enhance the event programme to better meet the athletes needs.
The input from the athletes is crucial to help shape the future of IOF’s competitions and event programme, focusing on environmental, financial, and social sustainability.
The above mentioned athletes from all four disciplines will receive an e-mail during next week with a link to the survey.
We hope that the recipients will find the time to answer the survey, from which IOF Athletes Commission will process the answers in the further work.
]]>Three individual races await – a Sprint, a Pursuit (Long) and a Middle distance – all in Haanja in the most south-eastern corner of Estonia.
Athletes can expect a terrain with medium sized hills with steep slopes, relatively flat grasslands, cultivated fields and marshes between hills, the bulletin says.
The opening sprint on Friday has been moved from its original terrain in Kubija a little further north due to insufficient snow amounts to Haanja, where the rest of the races are held.
Olsson and Baklid has huge leads
This year’s Ski Orienteering World Cup consists of six races, of which the best five count in the overall standings.
The first three races took place four weeks ago at the World Ski Orienteering Championships in Austria, so at the latest after Sunday’s middle distance, it is clear who wins this year’s title.
Magdalena Olsson (SWE) and Jørgen Baklid (NOR) has commanding leads ahead of the final races in Estonia, after Olsson won two golds and a silver medal in Austria, where Baklid swept all three golds in the men’s class.
Olsson has 280 points and the nearest pursuer is Anna Ulvensøen (NOR) with 195 points and Linda Lindkvist (SWE) 22 points further behind.
Baklid (photo) has the maximum 300 points and lead by 100 points to Nicola Müller (SUI) in second position, with Finland’s Niklas Ekström in third (155 points).
If Baklid takes the overall win, it will be his third consecutive SkiO World Cup title.
Olsson has a second place from the 2019-2020 World Cup as her best overall result so far.
Find the World Cup standings here
U23 WSOC medals up for grabs
Friday’s Sprint and Sunday’s Middle distance serve as this year’s U23 WSOC, where athletes born in or later than 2001 are able to compete for medals and glory.
Last year Judita Traubaite (LTU) won both women U23 golds in Beitostølen, Norway, but 2023 was her last year in the U23 class, so she will not be able to defend her titles in Haanja.
In the men’s class Niklas Ekström (FIN) and Jonathan Ståhl (SWE) tied for the U23 sprint gold last year (photo), and Ekström won the middle distance title the day before.
Both of them have registered for the races in Estonia and are able to defend their titles.
Masters athletes will get their chance to win titles as well, as the World Masters Ski Orienteering Championships are held in conjunction with the races.
WMSOC was supposed to take place in Italy during 2024 Winter World Masters Games in January, but was cancelled due to lack of snow.
Don’t miss the action
The pursuit and middle distance races are shown on IOF TV, with English commentary by former Swedish national team athlete Linus Rapp.
Tickets are 9 EUR for each race – go to IOF TV for your ticket today.
Find start lists, results and GPS-tracking all three days on IOF LIVE.
All times listed are EET – UTC+2.
Programme
(all times EET : UTC +2)
Friday, February 23
Sprint
10:30 First start Women
11:00 First start Men
12:30 Prize giving ceremony
Saturday, February 24
Pursuit
10:20 IOF TV start
10:30 First start Men
11:45 First start Women
Sunday, February 25
Middle
10:00 First start Women
10:20 IOF TV start
10:30 First start Men
It was the first ever sprint Oceania Orienteering Championships with the events designed to prepare the athletes in the best possible way for this summer’s World Orienteering Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland.
All competitions were held on the North Island, with the Knock-Out Sprint and Sprint Relay taking place Sunday and Monday in and around New Plymouth before the Sprint was decided in Auckland on Saturday.
The Kiwis had the best start to the championships, as Lizzie Ingham and Joseph Lynch (both NZL) became the first Oceania champions in Knock-Out Sprint on Sunday.
Emma Bjessmo (SWE) won the women’s final 1 second ahead of Ingham, who as the best Oceanic runner won the championship title and secured a personal start spot in this summer’s World Orienteering Championship KO Sprint qualification in Edinburgh in July.
Swiss athlete Ines Berger was out sprinted by Ingham and took third position ahead of silver medalist Tara Melhuish (AUS) and bronze winner Amelia Horne (NZL).
Joseph Lynch on his way to the KO Sprint win. Photo by Evalin Brautigam.
In the men’s class, Joseph Lynch took a clear victory by 9 seconds with Ewan Shingler and Angus Haines (both AUS) behind him.
The oceanic gold medal gives Lynch a start place in the WOC KO Sprint as well.
Full article on the KO Sprint with map example from New Plymouth here.
On Monday, the Australians took revenge in the sprint relay.
The team, consisting of Nea Shingler, Patrick Jaffe, Brodie Nankervis and Caitlin Young, took the lead from first leg and won by a clear margin of nearly three minutes.
Sunday’s champions Ingham and Lynch featured in the best New Zealand team, which was 17 seconds ahead of another Kiwi team in third position.
Nea Shingler (AUS) and Ines Berger (SUI) lead the field after the sprint relay start. Photo by Karen Woods.
In the individual sprint, Joseph Lynch won his second gold of the championships on Saturday, where he beat compatriot Tim Robertson by just one second.
Aston Key ensured that Australia was also represented on the men’s podium by finishing in third position, further 37 seconds behind.
Emma Bjessmo was once again fastest among the women and after her three Australian juniors completed the Oceanic podium. Nea Shingler (AUS) was crowned Oceanic champion six seconds behind Bjessmo and Erika Enderby and Milla Key occupied the subsequent positions.
]]>The clinic is a 10-day camp arranged for young and promising athletes from less economically strong orienteering federations to develop as orienteers and succeed in WOC 2024.
Participants will be provided accommodation, transport, meals and coaching by experienced orienteers.
The IOF WOC Clinic also focuses on learning of orienteering skills and exchange of knowledge and experience with orienteering development between participating athletes and the Clinic coaches and leaders.
Marko Radovanovic (SRB), participated in the 2023 WOC Clinic in Flims Laax, Switzerland. Here captured during the long distance on July 13, 2023. By Remy Steinegger.
This year’s Clinic begins on Monday, July 8th with three training days, consisting of lectures and practical exercises designed to prepare the participants to a successful participation in the World Orienteering Championships competitions during the 6 following days.
Find more information, the full invitation and application form on the WOC Clinic site.
Applications for IOF WOC Clinic 2024 must be submitted by February 26th 2024!
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