IOF NEWS

IOF Senior Vice-President Hugh Cameron

Hugh Cameron of Australia has been a member of the IOF Council for many years but, outside the administrative circles of our sport, few people know the great contribution Hugh has made over the years. The Australian Orienteer spoke with Hugh Cameron at the recent World MTB-O Championships in Ballarat.

AO: how long have you been a member of the IOF Council?

HC: before I begin, may I congratulate the organisers of the 2nd World Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships – great organisation, exciting courses, closely contested competition and arenas selected and designed for spectators. Now the question: together with Åke Jacobson, I became a member of the IOF Council in 1988 and a Vice President in 1992.

AO: briefly, what does the job of Senior Vice-President entail?

HC: the Senior Vice President is a member of the President’s Working Group (PWG). The PWG functions in a similar way to the Executive of OA. If for any reason, the President was unable to carry out his duties then the Senior Vice President would take over the role of President.

AO: what would you say is your most significant achievement?

HC: the IOF Council is dedicated to ensuring the spread of Orienteering to more people in more places. It has a world view. It functions as a very good team, the capabilities of its members complement one another. Living “down under”, I have, over the years, been able to present the perspective of those parts of the world far from Europe.

AO: Åke Jacobson has just been elected President of IOF. Do you foresee any significant changes in direction for the IOF during his reign?

HC: Åke Jacobson and I know our respective points of view very well. There will be no surprises. The direction of the IOF is clearly set out in the 2004-2006 activity plan. The key elements are to spread the sport world-wide, to promote the development of Orienteering, to create and maintain a world elite event programme and to strengthen the organisation. Åke is committed to realising these goals.

AO: Anti-Doping strategies are a major issue for all sports. At WOC 2003 athletes from just 13 of 41 participating countries were tested. Some might say that is not a very stringent approach. What would be your response?

HC: Orienteering has a history of being clean when it comes to the matter of doping. The IOF is committed to ensuring a drug free sport. The IOF respects and abides by the provisions of the World AntiDoping Code and the Olympic Charter. It does everything in its power to preserve the spirit and values of our sport. Doping is contrary to such values and spirit.

AO: getting Foot Orienteering admitted to the Summer Olympics program seems to be a major pre-occupation with the IOF. Is it realistic and would the perceived benefits justify the effort?

HC: when it comes to being admitted to the Summer Olympic Games, the first objective of the IOF is to satisfy the criteria. We do not yet meet the required number of member federations. Current policy is to promote the growth of Orienteering in a global context thus positioning our sport for inclusion in the Games. In the meantime, the World Games is an important means of showcasing our sport. Orienteering does satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the Winter Games. We will apply for inclusion in Summer, Winter and Paralympic Games at each available opportunity. There are real benefits of being an Olympic sport – not least in terms of athlete recognition and media exposure.

AO: World Championships are now being held every year for WOC, JWOC and WMTB-O. Sending teams every year is a huge financial burden for member countries. Do you think such an onerous program can be sustained or will some countries stop sending teams?

HC: the IOF is very aware of the financial constraints and is in the final stages of developing a new elite event programme in foot Orienteering. High quality Regional Orienteering Championships together with the utilisation of existing international events, attractive to the world’s elite, will be part of this programme. The new programme will be implemented in 2007.

AO: will you be President of IOF one day?

HC: I have been part of the international scene since 1988. The IOF has just elected a new President. We will, in the future, need to look to a new generation of orienteers, much younger than I, to lead the IOF as we venture further into the 21st century.

AO: thank you for a frank discussion.

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IOF elects new President

With the retirement of Sue Harvey from the post of President the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) elected Åke Jacobson of Sweden to the position for the period 2004-2006. Hugh Cameron from Australia was elected Senior Vice-President.

Åke Jacobson has been a keen Orienteer since the age of 11. Orienteering has been part of his life ever since. • From 1973 -1976 Åke was the Secretary General of the Swedish

Orienteering Federation (SOFT). He was also the President of SOFT from 1986 to1994. • He became a member of the IOF Council in 1988 and has been a

Vice-President from 1992 to 2004. • Åke has solid mapping experience and mapped on a full-time basis in 1970-71. • Åke has orienteered in over 50 countries, and as a junior, reached

Swedish national team level. “I have a lot of visions for Orienteering that I would like to see realized and the best way to make these happen is to work within the structures now in place in the IOF” he said. “Working with people from all parts of the world for something in which you all believe gives me the energy required as well as the reward for the time spent.” “I believe one of the most important tasks for us is to continue to increase the recognition of our sport in the international sports arena and among the general public. I think our athletes deserve more appreciation and recognition for their performances which, I believe, are comparable to those of any other top athletes in the world. We also need to adopt a more global view in allocating events and an events program that is attractive to both athletes and the general public.” He added, “I believe the 2004 World Championships in Västerås was the “Best Championships Ever ”. Certainly in terms of the quality of the arena production it was for the first time really exciting to be a spectator at an Orienteering event. With the concept as demonstrated in Västerås we have come far in realising our ideal WOC concept. A few steps more and the status of our sport will increase further.” (extract from IOF O-Zine article by Erik Borg)

IOF World Rankings - October 2004

Men

1 Valentin Novikov RUS 2 Thierry Gueorgiou FRA 3 Holger Hott Johansen NOR 4 Emil Wingstedt SWE 5 Jarkko Huovila FIN 6 Mats Haldin FIN 45 Grant Bluett AUS 72 David Shepherd AUS 79 Tom Quayle AUS 82 Troy de Haas AUS 104Eric Morris AUS

Women

1 Simone Niggli-Luder SUI 2 Heli Jukkola FIN 3 Jenny Johansson SWE 4 Hanne Staff NOR 5 Marika Mikkola FIN 6 Karolina Arewång-Höjsgaard SWE 42 Natasha Key AUS 46 Jo Allison AUS 64 Hanny Allston AUS 108 Danielle Winslow AUS

2005 South Australian Orienteering Championships

Sunday 12th & Monday 13th June 2005

Join ‘Lincoln Orienteers’ for the first time in SA orienteering history for a championship event held over two days. The cumulative times from both days will make your final event time.

WHERE: Enjoy the June long weekend orienteering, 7km SE of picturesque Coffin Bay, Southern Eyre Peninsula. TERRAIN: Run on two adjoining maps in limestone terrain, cleared but interspersed with areas of larger native shrubs. Complex patterns of ridges and knolls and hundreds of small to massive limestone outcrops will make orienteering both a challenge and a joy.

WHERE TO STAY:

Low cost bunk accommodation and camping will be available at Nyroca 25km NW of Coffin Bay on 11th & 12th June at $5 per head per night. For Bookings contact – Jan Hetherington on (08) 8682 2374 or email: bazjan@sa.chariot.net.au

For other alternatives contact

Mt Dutton Bay Woolshed bunkhouse hostel Phone: (08) 8685 4031 or www.duttonbay. com/woolshed.htm Coffin Bay – Beachcomber Agencies Phone: (08) 8685 4057 or email: beachecombers@internode.on.net Port Lincoln – Port Lincoln Visitor Information Centre Phone: 1300 788 378 email: info@visitportlincoln.net or go to www.visitportlincoln.net

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Entries close Monday 30th May 2005

Entry forms and further details can be obtained on the Lincoln Orienteers website: www.users.centralonline.com.au/lincolno/sachamps Or contact the Event Organiser: Warren Dickie: (08) 8682 1141(ah) or email: lincolnrural@ruralco.com.au for an information kit.