The Project Group for the WOC in Future project has now been published. The project aims to create a new programme for the World Orienteering Championships (WOC).

WOC in Future project has its roots in the Evaluation of Elite Events group, which was launched after the General Assembly in Prostejov, Czech Republic in 2008. An extensive survey of opinions on Elite Events Programme was carried out online in 2009. The survey included 35 questions and got 466 replies from 42 nations in all 6 IOF Regions. Most replies – 55 % – came from athletes. The results were presented at the Presidents’ Conference in 2009.

Based on the survey answers, the IOF Council presented guiding principles for a new WOC programme at the General Assembly in Trondheim, Norway in August 2010. The three guiding principles were: the WOC programme should diversify, the WOC week should remain within eight days, and a new relay should be introduced.

At the same General Assembly, Norway’s proposal to introduce a mass-start in the World Orienteering Championships was carried.

A project group has now been set up to develop a detailed programme for a new WOC week. The group is coordinated by the IOF Sports Director. News on the development will be published on the IOF website throught the year, and a draft programme is going to be presented at the Presidents’ Conference in France in August 2011.

Project Group

– Leho Haldna chair, Vincent Frey, Mike Dowling, Steering Group members
– Foot orienteering: Konrad Becker, FootO Commission Chair
– Athletes: Emil Wingstedt, Sarah Rollins
– Media/Arena/TV: Jørn Sundby, TV commentator and production coordinator
– Coach: Thomas Bührer, Swiss national team

Reference persons
To be asked for advice on particular matters:
– Organiser: Sören Jonsson, adviser to WOC 2010
– EEE Background: Edmond Szechenyi, former EEE project member
– TV production: Karel Jonak, TV director Czech TV
– Overseas nations: Shin Murakoshi JPN