| Orienteering is an adventure sport for all ages and | | | | - In 1932 the first international orienteering |
| types of people. | | | | competition took place. It was between teams |
| The aim of orienteering is to navigate between | | | | from Norway and Sweden. |
| control points which have been marked on a | | | | - By 1934, orienteering had spread to Finland, |
| unique orienteering map. Good orienteers will plan | | | | Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Hungary. |
| the best route so that they can finish the course | | | | - In 1936 the first national orienteering society |
| in the fastest time. It is a fun outdoor sport | | | | was founded which was the Swedish national |
| which uses both body and mind. | | | | orienteering society, Svenska |
| When doing an orienteering course you can run, | | | | Orienteringförbundet. |
| walk, or jog it as you please. Although fitness | | | | - During the Second World War growth slowed |
| can be an asset knowing how to cooly and calmly | | | | down. During a break in the war NORD, a Nordic |
| plot a course is extremely important. | | | | body for co-operation was set up and Swedes |
| Orienteering takes place in lots of different | | | | and Norwegians and they started to produce |
| terrains. The most challenging orienteering | | | | multi-coloured maps for orienteering. |
| courses are done in demanding terrain where | | | | - In 1959 an international conference was held in |
| there are a small amount of paths. Courses can | | | | Sweden with delegations visiting from 12 different |
| be in parks, forests, school playgrounds and the | | | | countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, DDR |
| country side. | | | | (East Germany), Hungary, Switzerland, West |
| A Brief History Of Orienteering | | | | Germany, Yugoslavia and the four Nordic |
| In the military orienteering was used as a training | | | | countries. |
| exercise but we cannot say for exactly how long. | | | | - By May 1961 the International Orienteering |
| It was in 1886 that orienteering was used for the | | | | Federation (IOF) was founded at a meeting in |
| first time to describe crossing land with the aid of | | | | Denmark. |
| a map and a compass. By 1897 the first public | | | | - By 1969, the International Orienteering |
| orienteering event was to take place. | | | | Federation (IOF) was made up of 16 countries, |
| Major Ernst Killander was known as the Father of | | | | including the first two non-European member |
| Orienteering. He was a Swedish youth and scout | | | | societies Japan and Canada. |
| leader. | | | | - From 1967 to 2003 orienteering competitions |
| Below is a time line of the progression of | | | | were held bi-annually. |
| orienteering: | | | | These meetings are now held annually. |
| - In 1918 the first large scale orienteering meeting | | | | Tips To Be Good At Orienteering |
| happened close to Stockholm, this was attended | | | | Teach Yourself Good Map Reading Skills-When |
| by 220 athletes. | | | | orienteering reading a map is central to the |
| - In 1925 the first women's orienteering | | | | process. Apart from familiarising yourself with |
| competition was held in Göteborg, Sweden. | | | | the colour meanings, the idea here is to glean as |
| - In 1925 the first women's orienteering race | | | | much information as possible when you look at |
| was held in Hungary. | | | | the map. You should be keeping contact about |
| - In the 1930s the progress of more reliable | | | | once every 10 seconds or so with your map. |
| compasses helped orienteering to grow in | | | | You will be using your compass at the same time. |
| popularity. | | | | |