Orienteering is a group of sports that involve using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain whilst moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they use to find control points. Originally a training exercise in land navigation for military officers, orienteering has developed many variations. Among these, the oldest and the most popular is foot orienteering. For the purposes of this article, foot orienteering serves as a point of departure for discussion of all other variations, but almost any sport that involves racing against a clock and requires navigation with a map is a type of orienteering.
The World Orienteering Championships is an international orienteering competition which has been organized by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) since 1966. The World Orienteering Championships is considered to be the most prestigious competition in competitive orienteering. The races are contested between members of the IOF, which are each aligned to a National Olympic Committee.
Thierry Gueorgiou is a French orienteer who holds the record for gold medals won at the World Orienteering Championships for a male athlete, with 14 gold medals between 2003 and 2017. Gueorgiou has won more than 20 gold medals in international competitions, including the World Orienteering Championships (WOC) middle distance event a record eight times: 2003–2005, 2007–2009, 2011 and 2017.
The Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) are an annual orienteering competition. 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. Representative countries must be members of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).
Øyvin Thon is a Norwegian orienteering competitor, and has seven gold medals at the World Orienteering Championships.
The Italian Orienteering Federation is the national orienteering federation of Italy. It is a full member of the International Orienteering Federation.
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. Orienteering Australia has its own publication The Australian Orienteer.
The Polish Orienteering Association is the Polish national organisation of orienteering. It is a full Member of the International Orienteering Federation.
The French Orienteering Federation (FFCO) is the national orienteering Federation of France. It is a full member of the International Orienteering Federation.
The Český svaz orientačních sportů (ČSOS) is the national Orienteering Association in Czech Republic. It is recognized as the orienteering association for the Czech Republic by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.
The Danish Orienteering Federation is the national Orienteering Association in Denmark. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Denmark by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.
The Swedish Orienteering Federation is the national orienteering association in Sweden. It is recognized as the national federation for Sweden by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.
The Norwegian Orienteering Federation 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 Confederation of Sports (NIF). Its first chairman was Kaare Thuesen. In 1946 NOF had 204 associated clubs, with just above 7,000 members. The number of clubs and associated members increased gradually through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and peaked in 1984 with 630 clubs and 34,000 members, and 35,000 members and 620 clubs in 1985. The next twenty years saw a decline in the number of clubs and members. As per December 2007 Norges Orienteringsforbund had 400 associated clubs and just above 24,000 members, distributed over eighteen districts.
Deutscher Turner Bund, Abteilung Sport Orientierungslauf is the national Orienteering Association in Germany. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Germany by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.
The Hungarian Orienteering Federation is the governing body for orienteering in Hungary. It is recognized as Hungary's national orienteering association by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF), of which it is a member.
Swiss Orienteering is the national Orienteering Association in Switzerland. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Switzerland by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.
New Zealand Orienteering Federation is the national Orienteering Association in New Zealand. It is recognized as the orienteering association for New Zealand by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.
Ida Bobach is a Danish orienteering competitor who was Junior World Champion in 2009, and became triple Junior World Champion from 2010, when she won the sprint, long distance and the relay. She represents the club OK Pan Århus, and since 2007, has received training from Danish national coach Lars Lindstrøm. In 2015 she won gold medals at the World Championships in the long and Relay.
Yannick Michiels is a Belgian orienteer. He is the first Belgian orienteer to receive a medal at the World Orienteering Championships, receiving a bronze medal in the sprint discipline at the 2022 World Orienteering Championships in Denmark.
Kristian Jones or Kris Jones is a competitor in orienteering and athletics, competing for Great Britain. He also competes for Lillomarka OK in Norway, Forth Valley orienteers and Wales.
