Orienteering is a group of sports that require navigational skills 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.
Sport in New Zealand largely reflects the nation's colonial heritage, with some of the most popular sports being rugby union, rugby league, cricket, association football, basketball, horse racing and netball, which are primarily played in Commonwealth countries. New Zealand is a small nation but has enjoyed success in many sports, notably rugby union, rugby league, cricket, America's Cup sailing, world championship and Olympics events, and motorsport.
The most popular sportin Russia is soccer. According to Yandex search analysis results rating of the most popular sports among Russians: "Football topped the list of the most popular sports in Russia" with 5 to 10 million requests. Ice Hockey came in second with handball, basketball, futsal, boxing, auto racing, volleyball, athletics, tennis and chess rounding out the top ten rankings. Other popular sports include bandy, biathlon, figure skating, weightlifting, gymnastics, wrestling, martial arts, rugby union, and skiing.
Kari Sallinen is a Finnish orienteering competitor. He was the first Finn who won the Individual World Orienteering Championships. The competition was held in the year 1985 in Bendigo, Australia. He was also part of the Finnish team that obtained bronze in the 1981 Relay World Championship in Thun, Switzerland.
Åge Hadler is a Norwegian orienteering competitor, winner of the 1966 and 1972 individual World Orienteering Championships, relay champion from 1970, and individual bronze medalist from 1968.
Outi Borgenström is a Finnish orienteering competitor. She won the 1979 Individual World Orienteering Championships, and took bronze medal 1974. She is also Relay World Champion, as a member of the Finnish winning team 1978.
Daniel Hubmann is a Swiss orienteering competitor, world champion in all three individual disciplines and multiple winner of the overall Orienteering World Cup. He is the brother of Martin Hubmann. Daniel also has his own fan club which is run by New Zealand Orienteer Joseph Lynch.
Sinikka Kukkonen was a Finnish orienteering competitor. She is World Champion in both orienteering and ski orienteering. She became the first World Champion in ski orienteering, in 1975.
Johanna Asklöf is a Finnish orienteering competitor and World champion.
Magne Dæhli is a Norwegian orienteering competitor, ski-orienteer, and cross-country skier. His achievements include five medals in the relay at the World Orienteering Championships, of which three are gold medals. His best individual performances include a silver medal in the long distance from the European Orienteering Championships, and a bronze medal in the middle distance from the 2019 World Orienteering Championships.
Virpi Juutilainen is a Finnish ski-orienteering competitor and world champion.
Štěpán Kodeda was a Czech orienteering competitor, and twice junior world champion.
Søren Bobach is a Danish orienteering competitor, and world champion at both junior and senior level. He runs for OK Pan Århus.
Tomáš Dlabaja is a Czech orienteering competitor.
Seppo Keskinarkaus is a Finnish orienteering competitor. He received a silver medal in the relay event and finished 11th in the individual event at the 1979 World Orienteering Championships in Tampere.
Veijo Tahvanainen is a Finnish orienteering competitor. He received a silver medal in the relay event and finished 10th in the individual event at the 1968 World Orienteering Championships in Linköping. In 1970 he finished 14th in the individual event, and 4th with the Finnish relay team. At the 1972 World Orienteering Championships in Staré Splavy, he placed 9th in the individual contest, and was part of the Swiss relay team.
Markku Salminen was a Finnish orienteering competitor. He received a silver medal in the relay event and finished 13th in the individual event at the 1968 World Orienteering Championships in Linköping. In 1970 he finished 4th with the Finnish relay team. In 1974 he finished 16th in the individual event, and received a silver medal in the relay with the Finnish team. In 1976 he finished 5th in the individual event, and received a bronze in the relay.
Jukka Lanki is a Finnish ski-orienteering competitor who has represented Finland internationally from 1996. He has achieved silver medals at the world championships, both individually and in the relay. In the World Cup his best overall result is finishing second in 2001, as well as several victories in individual races.
Adrian Jackson is an Australian mountain bike orienteering competitor and World Champion. He has won individual gold medals at the 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2010 World MTB Orienteering Championships.
Troy de Haas is an Australian tower running, mountain running and orienteering competitor.
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