WORLD ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Reflections on a French WOC held 22 years ago With the 2011 World Orienteering Championships scheduled to be held in the Savoie region of France, Rex Niven (Nillumbik Emus, VIC), reflects on his involvement with France 1987.
F
RANCE has only once before hosted the World Championships. As France 2011 approaches I can now reveal my recollections and behind-the-scenes details of the World Champs 1987 held at Gerardmer, Eastern France. As I lived in western France, I must drive all afternoon to a mountain inn in the east part of Lorraine. I arrive to find the organisers hard at work, or in the local lingo en plein boulot. Clearly my group are in mid-briefing. Four authentic-looking mountain woodsmen with full black beards like big paintbrushes are gathered around the only table. They are making rapid inroads on a crate of beer and seem to be ignoring the presenter.
SEPTEMBER 2009 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER 13
