Orienteering is a running sport involving navigation with a map and compass. The traditional form (sometimes referred to as "Foot Orienteering" or "Foot-O") involves cross-country running, though other forms have evolved. The competition is a timed race in which individual participants use a special purpose map and a magnetic compass to navigate through diverse terrain (often wooded) and visit, in sequence, control points that are indicated on the map. The course of control points is kept a secret from competitors before the start, when they are provided with a detailed topographic map on which the course is marked. Competitors start at staggered intervals, are individually timed, and are expected to perform all navigation skills on their own. Standings are determined first by successful completion of the course, then by shortest time on course. Rules and principles of the sport are defined by the International Orienteering Federation.

The English name derives from the Swedish word "orientering". The term was first used to describe the sport in 1918 by Major Ernst Killander, then President of the Stockholm Amateur Athletic Association, in publicity for the first large scale competitive meet held in Sweden.Palmer, Peter (1997). The Complete Orienteering Manual. Wiltshire, England: The Crowood Press Ltd., ISBN Booksoures/1861260954, p. 19.

History

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Early days

Orienteering originated in Scandinavia, as a military exercise, in the late 19th century. The competitive sport form began in Norway where the first competition was sponsored by the Tjalve Sports Club on 31 October 1897 and held near Oslo. The course was quite long by modern standards, at 19.5 km, on which only three controls were placed. Peder Fossum won the event in a time of 1 hour, 47 minutes, and 7 seconds.Palmer, Peter (1997). The Complete Orienteering Manual. Wiltshire, England: The Crowood Press Ltd., ISBN Booksoures/1861260954, p. 18-19. The first large scale orienteering meet was organized in 1918 by Major Ernst Killander of Stockholm, Sweden. Killander was a scout leader who turned to the sport as an opportunity to interest youth in athletics. The first large scale event was organized south of Stockholm and was attended by 220 athletes.Boga, Steven (1997). Orienteering: The Sport of Navigating with Map & Compass. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA: Stackpole Books. ISBN Booksources/0811728706. p. 1. Killander continued to develop the rules and principles of the sport, and today is widely regarded throughout Scandinavia as the "Father of Orienteering."

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@MeaJonasBieber im frooozen DX im orienteering in cobh XD
Sinelike (Roisin :)) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:50:52 -0000
@MeaJonasBieber im frooozen DX im orienteering in cobh XD
@nichbuick It was back in the early 80s at an orienteering event; we were up high on the fell and drank from a mountain stream
heffulv (David Heffernan) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:34:45 -0000
@nichbuick It was back in the early 80s at an orienteering event; we were up high on the fell and drank from a mountain stream
Andras Szabo: Team Championship - in Hungary: I was still owing one post to the blog and it is no.. http://bit.ly/cIOWc #orienteering
worldofo_news (worldofo.com - news) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:15:15 -0000
Andras Szabo: Team Championship - in Hungary: I was still owing one post to the blog and it is no.. http://bit.ly/cIOWc #orienteering
Orientering.no: Nytt hefte - Orientering og psykologi http://bit.ly/3OhsiL #orienteering
Gjervan (Paul Gjervan) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:14:09 -0000
Orientering.no: Nytt hefte - Orientering og psykologi http://bit.ly/3OhsiL #orienteering
Find your way around Mendon Ponds Park in the dark Saturday Night - see you there - http://roc.us.orienteering.org/news.shtml
SteveTylock (Steve Tylock) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:53:44 -0000
Find your way around Mendon Ponds Park in the dark Saturday Night - see you there - http://roc.us.orienteering.org/news.shtml
OPN.no: Halden-leder: - Vi kan ikke prostituere oss: Olav Lundanes vant NM-lang tidligere i h�st .. http://bit.ly/2Iic4T #orienteering
worldofo_news (worldofo.com - news) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:15:05 -0000
OPN.no: Halden-leder: - Vi kan ikke prostituere oss: Olav Lundanes vant NM-lang tidligere i h�st .. http://bit.ly/2Iic4T #orienteering

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