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History of International competitions in SPRINT Orienteering

Sprint Orienteering races have been organized already 30 years ago. This type of orienteering races did not start as real competitions but were mostly chance for competitors to relax and enjoy in city o-events after the main o-season was closed. Also this format was not have strict rules and was also trying to present simple way of real orienteering. But people loved and progress was made in next 30 years........

One of the first big city events was organized in Venice (Italy) which became the larger city o-event and during next years it was officially recognized as a International orienteering meeting and for most of the EU orienteers the final race of the season. In 2006 will be already organize the 27-th edition of the famous o-race which bring in Venice a few thousand orienteers.

Each country make their unique development of this type of the orienteering but in 1996 a group of enthusiasts people started with an idea to organize World series of sprint races which was the cause of the birth of PARK WORLD TOUR (PWT). PWT idea was so strong that ELITE orienteers grab it already in the first year. PWT model was almost perfect for ELITE orienteers who wish to try something new and be part of a big o-show. Races were organized in cities across Europe but also in China. PWT realized that must get support of IOF to strength this idea further and this was next goal for people inside the PWT.

International orienteering federation (IOF) has closely monitoring the progress of PWT and see that this type of orienteering must include in World orienteering championships program. PWT not want just to include the format in the championships but also to have separate Orienteering world sprint championships with more than just one race. In august 2000 was a congress in Austria and IOF decided to accept sprint format and LEIBNITZ convention. PWT wanted more and they brought their ideas to public trough newsletter PWT now!

First sprint championship event was held in Finland 2001 and became equal to the other formats of orienteering (middle, long, relay).

Sprint races made big progress in last 5 years, not just on promotion of orienteering. Mappers started to prepare International standard for sprint maps which is crucial when we speak about fair play. Map commission of IOF prepare new standard ISSOM which was accepted by IOF on 15. of April 2005. But develop of map standard and sprint races are not finish yet. We could aspect that development will continue as a need for everybody (athletes, organizers, media, etc).

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