Gone are the days when the IOC simply counted flags to identify who was next to get into the Olympic Games. If we want to claim to be a truly global sport then we certainly do need as many countries to join the orienteering family as possible but we also need to ensure that we support the levels of activity within our federations.Brian Porteous BOF
Another challenge is in balancing IOF’s ambition to become an Olympic sport with the pressure that IOF has until now put on those member countries that take on the organisation of international championships, which function as shop windows for our capability as seen by the IOC. I appreciate that we should have as a long-term aim that orienteering becomes an Olympic sport, as that gives status and political clout in many countries. But that is likely to lie far in the future; we mustn’t use all our member countries’ energy in a race that cannot be won in the coming 15-20 years – if ever.Helge Søgaard DOF
