It is the television, the spectators and the olympics, Babe!

Der IOF liefert in der jüngsten Ausgabe seines Newsletters in inside orienteering seinen Erklärungsansatz zur nicht allseits geschätzten Entwicklung des Weltcups.  Im Zentrum stehen die Punkte:

• Olympia
• Fernsehen
• Zuschauer
• Veranstalter*

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Our second goal is for the sport to be visible and attractive. The main part of this goal is for us to achieve far greater levels of TV coverage reaching well beyond our traditional base.
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Our third goal is related to the first two and that is for us to be positioned for inclusion in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Brian Porteous, IOF Präsident

NORT and Post Finance have built the events around a TV concept

Mikko Salonen Vorsitzender der IOF Fuss OL Kommission in inside orienteering

To get visibility and media exposure though, and to get closer to becoming part of the Olympic family, we need more attractive sprint races for TV audiences rather than too many long distance races just for onsite orienteering spectators.

Mikko Salonen Vorsitzender der IOF Fuss OL Kommission in inside orienteering

Of course we aim at having a fair balance between different formats, but we need to remember that – firstly – we need motivated organisers, and – secondly – inclusion in the Olympic Games is one of the IOF’s key goals, hence driving the development of the World Cup and World Championships and their goals

Mikko Salonen Vorsitzender der IOF Fuss OL Kommission in inside orienteering

The sprint format was in fact chosen because we wanted to make as much of a public spectacle as we possibly could.

Malcolm Ingham, National Controller, World Cup NZL 2013 in inside orienteering

Nordic Tour has from the start had discussions with TV, and we have listened to their recommendations on how to get TV time. ... We now have a good platform and we have shown that it works to do a TV production of orienteering.

Henrik Skoglund, Tourmanager NORT 2013 in inside orienteering

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*Gemerkt? - Es fehlen die Athleten...

IOF und Petitionen

In der jüngsten Ausgabe von inside orienteering dem online newsletter des IOF, erklärt Anna Jacobson, wie Athleten auf die Entwicklung des Orientierungslaufes Einfluss nehmen könnnen.

Firstly it needs to be said that the IOF does not cast around on the internet to find out orienteers’ opinions. If there are things athletes want the IOF to know, they either need to send a letter to the IOF Secretariat – as Lina Strand did – or, even better, communicate through the Athletes’ Commission or their national federation. The Athletes’ Commission’s remit is to work between the athletes on the one hand and the discipline commission in the IOF and the IOF Council on the other. Through the Athletes’ Commission one can influence the process while it is going on. Internet petitions are often published after a decision has already been taken, and by then they cannot therefore influence the decision.
Also, several matters are decided upon at the IOF General Assembly. It is the national federations that vote there.

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Besides talking to the national federations, the best way to influence IOF decisions is through Athletes’ Commissions (AC). The IOF has ACs in all four disciplines. The commissions liaise with and provide advice to the IOF Council and the Chairperson of the relevant discipline commission on matters such as rules, event programmes, fairness and other matters relevant to elite international orienteering. “The strongest channel for the athletes to communicate with the IOF is through the Athletes’ Commission”, says IOF’s Sports Director Björn Persson. “This body is linked to the IOF Council and hence gives direct access to the central decision makers.” The Athletes’ Commission for foot orienteering is currently unmanned following the retirement of former chairman Emil Wingstedt and other members. “This situation is very unfortunate”, says Björn Persson. “Our wish is that the athletes themselves select their representatives, and we have asked some leading voices to support this action several times during the past year, unfortunately without results. Now a new approach has to be taken and our intent is that a commission can be up and running very shortly”, Persson concludes.

und zuguterletzt Mikko Salonen Chairman der IOF Foot Orienteering Commission:

“I would like to encourage athletes to activate the Athletes’ Commission’s work again and start direct dialogue that way with the IOF, rather than putting together petitions on the internet.”

Alles klar? Die Entscheidungsstruktur IOF auf der Ebene des nationalen Verbandes habe ich für die Schweiz im Artikel die Schweiz und der IOF (upd.dez.2012) dargestellt.