Foot orienteering
Encyclopedia
Foot orienteering is the oldest formal orienteering
sport, and the one with the most "starts" per year. Usually, a foot-O is a timed race
in which participants start at staggered intervals, are individually time
d, and are expected to perform all navigation
on their own. The control points
are shown on the orienteering map
and must be visited in the specified order. Standings are determined first by successful completion of the course
, then by shortest time on course.
Foot-O is one of four orienteering sports governed by the International Orienteering Federation
.
, the actual term "orienteering" was first used in 1886 and meant the crossing of unknown land with the aid of a map and a compass. The first orienteering competition open to the public was held in Norway in 1897. Notable dates for member nations of the IOF are shown below.
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
sport, and the one with the most "starts" per year. Usually, a foot-O is a timed race
Racing
A sport race is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time...
in which participants start at staggered intervals, are individually time
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
d, and are expected to perform all navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
on their own. The control points
Control point (orienteering)
A control point is a marked waypoint used in orienteering and related sports such as rogaining and adventure racing. It is located in the competition area; marked both on an orienteering map and in the terrain; and described on a control description sheet...
are shown on the orienteering map
Orienteering map
An orienteering map is a map specially prepared for use in orienteering competitions. It is a topographic map with extra details to help the competitor navigate through the competition area....
and must be visited in the specified order. Standings are determined first by successful completion of the course
Course (orienteering)
An orienteering course is composed of a start point, a series of control points, and a finish point. Controls are marked with a white and orange flag in the terrain, and corresponding purple symbols on an orienteering map...
, then by shortest time on course.
Foot-O is one of four orienteering sports governed by the International Orienteering Federation
International Orienteering Federation
The International Orienteering Federation is the international governing body of the sport of orienteering. The IOF head office is located in Helsinki, Finland....
.
History
The history of orienteering begins in the late 19th century in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, the actual term "orienteering" was first used in 1886 and meant the crossing of unknown land with the aid of a map and a compass. The first orienteering competition open to the public was held in Norway in 1897. Notable dates for member nations of the IOF are shown below.
| First public event | National body founded | First national championships | First international event | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 1897 | 1945 (NOF Norges Orienteringsforbund Norges Orienteringsforbund is the national Orienteering Association in Norway. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Norway by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member. The association was founded 1 October 1945, and is a member of the Norwegian... ) | 1937 (Årnes/Kongsvinger) | 1932 (Slora, Sørkedalen) | |
| Sweden | 1901 | (SOFT Svenska Orienteringsförbundet Svenska Orienteringsförbundet is the national Orienteering Association in Sweden. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Sweden by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.Svenska Orienteringsförbundet was founded 6 January 1938.-References:... ) see below | 1935 (Skinnskatteberg) or 1937 | ||
| The first Swedish national body was formed in 1935, [or 1936] to co-ordinate both foot and ski orienteering. In 1938 SOFT Svenska Orienteringsförbundet Svenska Orienteringsförbundet is the national Orienteering Association in Sweden. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Sweden by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.Svenska Orienteringsförbundet was founded 6 January 1938.-References:... took over the sport for all foot races. | |||||
| Estonia | 1926 (Pirita) | 1959 | 1959(Nelijärve) | 1973 (1969 ski orienteering) | |
| Australia | (OA Orienteering Australia Orienteering Australia is the National organisation responsible for the governing, organisation and promotion of orienteering in Australia. It is a Full Member of the International Orienteering Federation... ) | ||||
| Canada | 1967 (COF The Canadian Orienteering Federation The Canadian Orienteering Federation is the national Orienteering Association in Canada. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Canada by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.-History:... ) | 1968 (Gatineau Park) | 1976? | ||
| India | (OFI) | ||||
| Ireland | 1969 | (IOA Irish Orienteering Association Irish Orienteering Associationis the Irish national organisation of orienteering. It is a full Member of the International Orienteering Federation.-Awards:The Irish Orienteering Association bestows three special awards a year:... ) | 1975 | ||
| Italy | 1976 (Ronzone Ronzone Ronzone is a comune in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 40 km north of Trento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 369 and an area of 5.3 km².... ) | 1986 (FISO Federazione Italiana Sport Orientamento Federazione Italiana Sport Orientamento is the National orienteering Federation of Italy. It is a Full Member of the International Orienteering Federation- External links :*... ) | 1986 | 1993 (Kastelruth Kastelruth Kastelruth is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 70 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 20 km northeast of the city of Bolzano .... - JWOC) | |
| New Zealand | (NZOF) | ||||
| South Africa | 1981? | (SAOF) | |||
| UK | 1962 | 1967 (BOF British Orienteering Federation The British Orienteering Federation, sometimes branded British Orienteering, is the national sports governing body for the sport of orienteering in the United Kingdom. The federation was founded in June 1967, and is a member of the IOF... ) | 1967 (Hamsterley Forest) | 1976 (Darnaway Forest) | |
| US | 1967 (Valley Forge, PA) | (USOF United States Orienteering Federation United States Orienteering Federation or USOF is the national governing body for orienteering in the United States. The group announced in August 2010 that it will change its public-facing name to Orienteering USA. It is recognized by the International Orienteering Federation and the United States... ) | |||
| Russia/USSR | 1959 (Leningrad Leningrad Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province... ) | 1961 | 1963 (Uzgorod) | ||
International championships
- World Orienteering ChampionshipsWorld Orienteering ChampionshipsThe World Orienteering Championships were first held in 1966. They were held biennially up to 2003 . Since 2003, competitions have been held annually....
- Junior World Orienteering ChampionshipsJunior World Orienteering ChampionshipsThe Junior World Orienteering Championships are an orienteering competition held every year. They were first held in 1990. Entry is open to national teams aged 20 and below as of 31 December in the year of competition...
- European Orienteering ChampionshipsEuropean Orienteering ChampionshipsThe European Orienteering Championships were first held in 1962. They have been held biennially since 2000.The current championship events are:* Relay - for three-person teams* Long distance* Middle distance* Sprint-Host towns/cities:...