A navigational endurance sport in which competitors race to find control points marked on a detailed topographic map.
Origin and rules
Orienteering was developed in the late 19th century by the Swedish military as a training exercise. The first civilian competition was held outside Stockholm in 1897, and the International Orienteering Federation was founded in 1961.
How it plays
Each competitor receives a map showing a sequence of numbered control points in dense forest, urban, or mountain terrain. They choose their own route between controls and are timed from start to finish, with electronic units recording each punch.
Competition
The IOF World Orienteering Championships and the multi-day O-Ringen festival in Sweden are flagship events. Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Finland, and the Czech Republic dominate the elite ranks. Orienteering features at the World Games but is not Olympic.
Find more sports by letter
Orienteering starts with O and ends with G. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Orienteering":