International Orienteering Federation
Encyclopedia
The International Orienteering Federation (IOF) is the international governing body of the sport of orienteering
. The IOF head office is located in Helsinki
, Finland
.
The IOF governs four orienteering disciplines: foot orienteering
, mountain bike orienteering
, ski orienteering, and trail orienteering
.
by the orienteering national federations of Bulgaria
, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, Finland
, Hungary
, Norway
, Sweden
and Switzerland
. By 1969, the IOF represented 16 countries, including its first two non-European member federations representing Japan and Canada, and in 1977 the IOF was recognised by the International Olympic Committee
.
worldwide. These commissions include: Foot Orienteering
, MTB Orienteering
, Ski Orienteering
, Trail Orienteering
, Environment, IT, Map
, Medical, and Rules.
.
The IOF is also a member of the following organisations:
and specifications for orienteering maps
.
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
. The IOF head office is located in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
The IOF governs four orienteering disciplines: foot orienteering
Foot orienteering
Foot orienteering is the oldest formal orienteering sport, and the one with the most "starts" per year. Usually, a foot-O is a timed race in which participants start at staggered intervals, are individually timed, and are expected to perform all navigation on their own. The control points are...
, mountain bike orienteering
Mountain bike orienteering
Mountain bike orienteering is an orienteering endurance racing sport on a mountain bike where navigation is done along trails and tracks. Compared to foot orienteering, competitors usually are not permitted to leave the trail and track network. Navigation tactics are similar to ski-orienteering,...
, ski orienteering, and trail orienteering
Trail Orienteering
Trail orienteering is an orienteering sport that involves precise reading of an orienteering map and the corresponding terrain. Trail orienteers must identify, in the terrain and in the presence of decoys, control points shown on the map...
.
History
The IOF was founded on 21 May 1961 at a Congress held in Copenhagen, DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
by the orienteering national federations of Bulgaria
Bulgarian Orienteering Federation
The Bulgarian Orienteering Federation is the national Orienteering Association in Bulgaria. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Bulgaria by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.- See also :Bulgarian orienteers...
, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, Finland
Finnish Orienteering Federation
The Finnish Orienteering Federation is the governing body for the sport of orienteering in Finland. The federation was founded in 1945 and has approximately 60,000 members. It is a full Member of the International Orienteering Federation...
, Hungary
Magyar Tájékozódási Futó Szövetség
Magyar Tájékozódási Futó Szövetség – is the national Orienteering Association in Hungary...
, Norway
Norges Orienteringsforbund
Norges Orienteringsforbund 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...
, Sweden
Svenska Orienteringsförbundet
Svenska Orienteringsförbundet is the national Orienteering Association in Sweden. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Sweden by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.Svenska Orienteringsförbundet was founded 6 January 1938.-References:...
and Switzerland
Swiss Orienteering
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....
. By 1969, the IOF represented 16 countries, including its first two non-European member federations representing Japan and Canada, and in 1977 the IOF was recognised by the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
.
Membership
As of August 2011, the membership of the IOF comprises 73 national orienteering federations, of which 52 are full members, 21 are provisional members, divided into six geographical regions.Africa
1 Full Member, 3 Provisional Members| Kenya Mozambique | Somalia South Africa The South African Orienteering Federation South African Orienteering Federation is the national Orienteering Association in South Africa. SAOF was founded in 1981, and is recognized as the orienteering association for South Africa by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.SAOF is a member of the umbrella... |
Asia
8 Full Members, 6 Provisional Members| China Orienteering Association of China The Orienteering Association of China is the national Orienteering Association in China. It is recognized as the orienteering association for China by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member. -External links:*... Chinese Taipei Hong Kong Orienteering Association of Hong Kong Orienteering Association of Hong Kong is the HSK organisation responsible for orienteering in Hong Kong. It is a Full Member of the International Orienteering Federation.-External links:*... India Indonesia |
Japan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Malaysia Mongolia | North Korea Pakistan South Korea Thailand |
Europe
36 Full Members, 3 Provisional Members| Austria Österreichischer Fachverband für Orientierungslauf Österreichischer Fachverband für OL is the national Orienteering Association in Austria. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Austria by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member. - See also :Austrian orienteers... Belgium Belarus Belarus Orienteering Federation Belarus Orienteering Federation is the National organisation responsible for the governing, organisation and promotion of orienteering in Belarus. It is a Full Member of the International Orienteering Federation.-Governance:... Bulgaria Bulgarian Orienteering Federation The Bulgarian Orienteering Federation is the national Orienteering Association in Bulgaria. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Bulgaria by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.- See also :Bulgarian orienteers... Croatia Croatian Orienteering Federation The Croatian Orienteering Federation is the national Orienteering Association in Croatia. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Croatia by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.... Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark |
Estonia Eesti Orienteerumisliit Eesti Orienteerumisliit is the national Orienteering Federation of Estonia. It is recognized as the orienteering federation for Estonia by the International Orienteering Federation, it became a member on 27 September 1991 ..... Finland Finnish Orienteering Federation The Finnish Orienteering Federation is the governing body for the sport of orienteering in Finland. The federation was founded in 1945 and has approximately 60,000 members. It is a full Member of the International Orienteering Federation... France Georgia Germany Deutscher Turner Bund,Abteilung Sport Orientierungslauf 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.... Great Britain Greece Hungary Magyar Tájékozódási Futó Szövetség Magyar Tájékozódási Futó Szövetség – is the national Orienteering Association in Hungary... |
Ireland Irish Orienteering Association Irish Orienteering Associationis the Irish national organisation of orienteering. It is a full Member of the International Orienteering Federation.-Awards:The Irish Orienteering Association bestows three special awards a year:... Israel Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithunia Macedonia Moldova |
Montenegro Netherlands Nederlandse Orienteringsloop Bond Dutch Orienteering Federation NOLB is the national Orienteering Association in the Netherlands. It is recognized as the orienteering association for the Netherlands by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.... Norway Norges Orienteringsforbund Norges Orienteringsforbund 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... Poland Polski Zwiazek Orientacji Sportowej Polski Związek Orientacji Sportowej is the Polish national organisation of orienteering. It is a full Member of the International Orienteering Federation.-External links:*... Portugal Romania Russia Russian Orienteering Federation The Russian Orienteering Federation is the Russian national organisation of orienteering. It is a full Member of the International Orienteering Federation.-External links:... Serbia |
Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Svenska Orienteringsförbundet Svenska Orienteringsförbundet is the national Orienteering Association in Sweden. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Sweden by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.Svenska Orienteringsförbundet was founded 6 January 1938.-References:... Switzerland Swiss Orienteering 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.... Turkey Turkish Orienteering Federation The Turkish Orienteering Federation is the national Orienteering Association in Turkey. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Turkey by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.-External links:*... Ukraine Ukrainian Orienteering Federation Ukrainian Orienteering Federation is the Ukrainian national organisation of orienteering. It is a full Member of the International Orienteering Federation.-External links:*... |
North America
3 Full Members, 2 Provisional Members| Barbados Canada Jamaica | Puerto Rico United States United States Orienteering Federation United States Orienteering Federation or USOF is the national governing body for orienteering in the United States. The group announced in August 2010 that it will change its public-facing name to Orienteering USA. It is recognized by the International Orienteering Federation and the United States... |
Oceania
2 Full Members| Australia Orienteering Australia 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... |
New Zealand New Zealand Orienteering Federation 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.... |
South America
2 Full Members, 7 Provisional Members| Argentina Brazil Confederação Brasileira de Orientação The Confederação Brasileira de Orientação is the national Orienteering Association in Brazil. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Brazil by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member. -External links:*... Chile |
Colombia Federación Colombiana de Orientación The Federación Colombiana de Orientación is the national Orienteering Association in Colombia. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Colombia by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member. -References:... Cuba Ecuador |
Panama Uruguay Venezuela |
Governance structure
The IOF is governed by an elected Council consisting of a President, a Senior Vice President, two Vice Presidents, and seven other Council members. Day-to-day operations of the IOF are the responsibility of the IOF Secretary General. Several standing commissions of the IOF are responsible for the development of the sportSport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
worldwide. These commissions include: Foot Orienteering
Foot orienteering
Foot orienteering is the oldest formal orienteering sport, and the one with the most "starts" per year. Usually, a foot-O is a timed race in which participants start at staggered intervals, are individually timed, and are expected to perform all navigation on their own. The control points are...
, MTB Orienteering
Mountain bike orienteering
Mountain bike orienteering is an orienteering endurance racing sport on a mountain bike where navigation is done along trails and tracks. Compared to foot orienteering, competitors usually are not permitted to leave the trail and track network. Navigation tactics are similar to ski-orienteering,...
, Ski Orienteering
Ski-orienteering
Ski orienteering is a cross-country skiing endurance winter racing sport and one of the four orienteering disciplines recognized by the IOF...
, Trail Orienteering
Trail Orienteering
Trail orienteering is an orienteering sport that involves precise reading of an orienteering map and the corresponding terrain. Trail orienteers must identify, in the terrain and in the presence of decoys, control points shown on the map...
, Environment, IT, Map
Orienteering map
An orienteering map is a map specially prepared for use in orienteering competitions. It is a topographic map with extra details to help the competitor navigate through the competition area....
, Medical, and Rules.
Affiliations
Since 1977, the IOF has been recognised by the International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
.
The IOF is also a member of the following organisations:
- Association of IOC Recognised International Sports FederationsAssociation of IOC Recognised International Sports FederationsThe Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-discriminatory organisation constituted through and recognised by the International Olympic Committee. . It was formed in 1983...
(ARISF) - International World Games AssociationInternational World Games AssociationThe International World Games Association is an international association, recognized by the IOC, that organizes every four years since 1981 the multi-sport event called the World Games.-Member federations:...
(IWGA) - International Masters Games Association (IMGA)
- SportAccord
Publications
The IOF publishes a wide variety of journals and reference works related to the sport. These include Orienteering World, an annual magazine, The Scientific Journal of Orienteering, the OZine, and official editions of the rules of IOF sanctioned orienteeringOrienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
and specifications for orienteering maps
Orienteering map
An orienteering map is a map specially prepared for use in orienteering competitions. It is a topographic map with extra details to help the competitor navigate through the competition area....
.