World of O News
Mixed sprint relay: On the WOC program already from Italy in 2014. The first implementation of Sprint Relay in the World Orienteering Championships will be in 2014 in Italy, after which it will be a permanent format on the programme, the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) writes on their webpage today.
The IOF is aiming at staging the new format on the international level starting from 2013. At The World Games 2013 in Cali, Colombia, the current “Mixed Relay” will be conducted based on the format of the Sprint Relay. The IOF Council recently decided on the details of this new format for World Orienteering Championships.
This running order is thought to bring “more drama for the spectators”
The new sprint relay format is a mixed relay with 2 men and 2 women on the team – with running order Women – Man – Man – Women – this running order is thought to bring “more drama for the spectators”. The terrain and technical requirements are to be similar to the current sprint format – with the terrain being a combination of park, park-type of forest and urban.
The winning time for each leg is planned to be around 15 minutes.
What do you think about the new sprint relay format? Is it a good fit for the future WOC program? Is sprint orienteering getting too much importance in the world of orienteering these days? Did you read Lina Strand’s article from a month ago entitled “The one who wins the World Cup overall is the best sprinter in the world!”?
GPS-tracking is required and “touch-free” punching should be considered
Here are some more details about the new sprint relay format:
- The event shall be easy to understand for the spectators
- Big part (70-80 %) of the course should be possible to cover with TV-cameras
- Arena passage should be used, if possible (if terrain allows it without compromising too much with course quality). When there is a comprehensive TV coverage on the course, the arena passage may not always be required. This also gives more flexibility for course planning and may enable better and more challenging courses
- If arena passage is used there are two loops with a course printed on both side of the map
- Forked courses
- GPS-tracking is required and “touch-free” punching should be considered
Read more at the IOF’s webpage.
So which sport has successfully included a mixed relay in their competition program (summer or winter)?
I know that Biathlon have a mixed relay on their program, but very often there are only “B-teams” at start.
Some federations are also experimenting at the Youth Olympic Games.
But to include it in the World Championships when it has never been done before – and expect “more drama”?
Good job orienteering, you will be at the Olympic in 2296.
There are so much mixed events at the olympics, as you know ;-)
I don’t know why they keep on with this kind of programme if anyone support it :( ¡ What a disaster !
Why do we keep introducing disciplines that have not been properly tested. A lot of wishful thinking in the upper levels of international orienteering.
The WOC will remain the main event of the year but I’m afraid the elite orienteers will not give the rest of the World Cup much effort.
I don’t think that this dicipline will be that more interesting than e.g. knockout sprint that also didn’t really kick ass… but why do they want to use touchfree???
I think the (short) stop at each control is part of the orienteering sport and should not be deleted by a touchfree punching system!
when you have to stop and focus on the punching system for just a split second, it makes it harder to leave the control in the perfect direction. so punching makes also orienteering harder!
I think it’s pretty forward thinking actually to have a mixed title. Not convinced that imposing the same order is the best idea, W-M-M-W means a guy knows he will never get the glory of a winning WOC relay run-in, even if it is ‘only’ a sprint! Alternate it perhaps with W-M-W-M or simply a random draw.
Maybe better to leave the running order up to the teams? And they can change the order at any time – even DURING the competition. This may add a little bit of tactics and “more drama” …
Quote from the future IOF competition rules for foot orienteering: “Four laps: two women and two men with a fixed running order woman-man-man-woman as this running order will create more drama for spectators.”
Women on the two legs with the most pressure (first and last) will create more drama?! How? Do women more often lose their heads in stressed situations than men? The IOF Council obviously means so, and even wants to formalize this in the competition rules for foot orienteering!
“Drama queen” will get a stronger meaning to me after this.
The format is not totally new – (World Games, and in MTBO). But it is obvious that most top orienteers do not like it! So why have it at WOC???
I would have preferred WOC as it was in the last years, with qualification races AT the WOC itself, 3 start places for ALL nations and a final with the best of them in each discipline.
I totally agree with Lina Strand: World Cup should consider all three disciplines equally – and also WOC!
And I agree also with Roland (here in the discussion):
Reaching and punching the control is part of orienteering – you often have to turn, you have to stop and start again (which is more straining than running always at same speed) -> no “touchfree” at foot orienteering
Isn’t these rapid inventions of new disciplines a clear sign of almost total lack of confidence in the sport we do (and its characteristics)? A little bit like: To be loved by more we have to change! change now!! change anything!!!
Another discipline for us Swiss. Didn t you learn anything, rest of the world? :-P
Shame on IOF council. Money-hunger is behind such changes in orienteering, not the love for this sport.
A petition against these proposals has been made here. It already has 318 signatures, including 13 World Champions!
So, if you disagree with the IOF, sign up!
http://real-orienteers.toonmelis.com/
Here’s the link…