Norges Orienteringsforbund
Encyclopedia
Norges Orienteringsforbund (NOF) 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.
The federation publishes the magazine Veivalg. Its current headquarters are at Sognsvann
.
sport in Norway has its roots from the 1890s and the early 1900s. Then there was a long period of little activity until the mid 1920s, when the activity gradually increased. The sport was organized under the Norwegian Athletics Association
from 1934, and in parallel also as a departement of the Workers' Confederation of Sports
from 1935. During the World War II
, the Nazi government tried to control all organized sport, which resulted in a general boycott of organized sports activities. Secret orienteering competitions, which were not under nazi control, were then arranged. From 1941 maps were confiscated and sale of maps was prohibited, which made participation in the secret competitions more risky. Orienteering sport saw an increasing interest among the Norwegian refugees in Sweden, and the sport was also part of the military training. About 300 instructors were educated, and about 2,800 compasses were brought to Norway from Sweden during the war. The members of Kompani Linge in Great Britain were trained in orienteering, and several orienteering
competitions were arranged at Aviemore
in Scotland during the WW2.
After the establishment of the federation in 1945 the sport faced a series of challenges, including scarcity of equipment such as maps, compasses and boots, and transportation problems.
In 1961 NOF was among the founding members of the International Orienteering Federation
, along with Bulgaria
, Czechoslovakia
, Denmark
, East Germany, Finland
, Hungary
, Sweden
, Switzerland
and West Germany
.
Norway hosted the first European Orienteering Championships
in 1962 at Løten
, and the World Orienteering Championships
in 1978 (at Kongsberg
) and in 1997 (at Grimstad
).
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...
Association
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is recognized as the orienteering
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...
association
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
for Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
by the International Orienteering Federation
International Orienteering Federation
The International Orienteering Federation is the international governing body of the sport of orienteering. The IOF head office is located in Helsinki, Finland....
, of which it is a member. The association
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
was founded 1 October 1945, and is a member of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports
The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports is the umbrella organization for sport in Norway. It is the largest volunteering organization in Norway, with more than 2 million members, and 12000 sports clubs, in 19 region confederatons and 56 national federations...
(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.
The federation publishes the magazine Veivalg. Its current headquarters are at Sognsvann
Sognsvann
Sognsvann is a 3.3km circumference lake just north of Oslo, Norway.Lying just within the greenbelt around Oslo, the lake is a popular recreational area, used as a camping, picnicking and bathing destination for the residents of Oslo during the summer, as well as a cross-country skiing, skating and...
.
History
The 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...
sport in Norway has its roots from the 1890s and the early 1900s. Then there was a long period of little activity until the mid 1920s, when the activity gradually increased. The sport was organized under the Norwegian Athletics Association
Norwegian Athletics Association
The Norwegian Athletics Association is the national governing body for the sport of athletics in Norway, including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking...
from 1934, and in parallel also as a departement of the Workers' Confederation of Sports
Arbeidernes Idrettsforbund
Arbeidernes Idrettsforbund was a sporting organization in Norway between 1924 and 1946. As of 1935, AIF had around 50,000 members. AIF published the magazine Arbeideridrett.-Foundation and early growth:...
from 1935. During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Nazi government tried to control all organized sport, which resulted in a general boycott of organized sports activities. Secret orienteering competitions, which were not under nazi control, were then arranged. From 1941 maps were confiscated and sale of maps was prohibited, which made participation in the secret competitions more risky. Orienteering sport saw an increasing interest among the Norwegian refugees in Sweden, and the sport was also part of the military training. About 300 instructors were educated, and about 2,800 compasses were brought to Norway from Sweden during the war. The members of Kompani Linge in Great Britain were trained in orienteering, and several orienteering
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...
competitions were arranged at Aviemore
Aviemore
Aviemore is a town and tourist resort, situated within the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Badenoch and Strathspey committee area, within the Highland council area. The town is popular for skiing and other winter sports, and for hill-walking in the Cairngorm...
in Scotland during the WW2.
After the establishment of the federation in 1945 the sport faced a series of challenges, including scarcity of equipment such as maps, compasses and boots, and transportation problems.
In 1961 NOF was among the founding members of the International Orienteering Federation
International Orienteering Federation
The International Orienteering Federation is the international governing body of the sport of orienteering. The IOF head office is located in Helsinki, Finland....
, along with 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
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Denmark
Dansk Orienterings-Forbund
The Dansk Orienterings-Forbund 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....
, East Germany, 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...
, 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....
and West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
Norway hosted the first European Orienteering Championships
European Orienteering Championships
The European Orienteering Championships were first held in 1962. They have been held biennially since 2000.The current championship events are:* Relay - for three-person teams* Long distance* Middle distance* Sprint-Host towns/cities:...
in 1962 at Løten
Løten
Løten is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Løten. The parish of Løiten was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 .-Name:The municipality is named after an old farm...
, and the World Orienteering Championships
World Orienteering Championships
The World Orienteering Championships were first held in 1966. They were held biennially up to 2003 . Since 2003, competitions have been held annually....
in 1978 (at Kongsberg
Kongsberg
is a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
) and in 1997 (at Grimstad
Grimstad
is a town and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It belongs to the geographical region of Sørlandet. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Grimstad. Other notable places in Grimstad include Eide, Fevik, Fjære, Landvik, Prestegårdskogen, Reddal, and Roresanden.It is...
).
Chairmen
- Kaare Thuesen (1945–1948)
- Joh. Chr. Schønheyder (1948–1953)
- Odd Hopp (1953–1957)
- Ludv. Steff Pedersen (1957–1961)
- Bjarne Bjercke (1961–1967)
- Knut Berglia (1967–1971)
- Jan Martin LarsenJan Martin LarsenJan Martin Larsen is a Norwegian cartographer, orienteer and politician.He graduated from the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1963, and in his early career he worked in Fjellanger-Widerøe and the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment. From 1986 to 1989 he was the director of mapping in the...
(1971–1975) - Reidar Birkeland (1975–1979)
- Leif A. Karlsen (1979–1983)