O-Ringen Academy 2022

PWT and PWT Academy was responsible for organizing the O-Ringen Academy 2022, arranged in conjunction with O-Ringen in Uppsala, Sweden, between the 22nd of July and the 31st of July. The O-Ringen Academy is a place for orienteering runners from different countries and on different levels, including beginners, to meet and exchange their experience and learn new. Last time when the O-Ringen Academy was arranged, in 2019, 45 orienteers from 13 countries participated.
This year, there were orienteers from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Hong Kong, Japan, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Turkey.

The Academy activities consisted of several seminars related to orienteering, held by the PWT and also visiting speakers like Albin Ridefelt. The seminars included topics such as organizing an international orienteering event, map drawing, how to involve more the kids in the schools through orienteering, etc. The Academy participants also joined the Global Development Conference organized by the IOF, which included many interesting workshops about different aspect of orienteering.

During the days, the Academy participants obviously took part in the O-Ringen races while also presenting orienteering maps and activities from their own countries in the Academy tent. The evenings were filled with race analysis, shared dinners, and nice time together. The participants could also enjoy visits of some special quests: Peo Bengtsson shared the memories of his life in orienteering (6046 orienteering races so far!) and how O-Ringen started; and Per Ola Olsson presented how to start to draw an orienteering map.

In the tent, there was also the possibility to buy the PWT 25 years memory book as well as the new Memories of the Winners book, which includes stories from all the WOCs since 1966. The tent was also frequently visited by several world champions and elite orienteers, both current and more experienced ones.

Thank you for all the participants. May our paths merge again soon in the future of Orienteering.

ps. Don’t forget Mauritius 3-days Orienteering in November. Registrations are still open!

Mauritius 3 days vouchers to Kasper and Simona

It was not just World Championship medals that were awarded yesterday in Vejle, Denmark, as also vouchers for Mauritius 3 days were handed out to the best man and woman. Although, the Women’s winner Megan Carter-Davies had already won a voucher earlier this year in ASOM. Hence, as per the rules set by PWT for awarding the vouchers, the voucher was handed out to silver medalist Simona Aebersold. The Men’s gold medal along with the voucher was won by Kasper Harlem Fosser.

Welcome to Mauritius Kasper & Simona!

ps. The registration is still open – everyone is welcome! More info here: Mauritius 3 days.

Through hail and rain

First came the hail, then flooding rain down narrow lanes of Lagonegro, Italy 11.3.2006.

Martina Fritschy was one of the o-navigators among obstacles seen and unseen on the map.

Photo: Lucie Navarová
Map: Rudi de Ferrari (& course), Roman Horký, Martin Lejsek

”The most challenging sprint course I have ever run”, said the only woman to finish in a time below 20 minutes. Who? Find the flow in Made for loving it. Orienteering for a new generation – a book from the Park World Tour to You.

PWT supports Eef Van Dongen in pursuit of World Games success

One of the main purposes of PWT has always been to support rising young orienteering stars in their pursuit of international O-success. Especially, PWT has provided support for athletes from “smaller” orienteering countries to help them have more equal changes in competing.

On this line, PWT is supporting Eef van Dongen (Netherlands) in her trip to the 2022 World Games. The games will be held in Birmingham, USA on 7-17 JULY 2022. World Games website.

Recently, Eef has produced some promising results in the international orienteering field. For example, in 2021 Sprint WOC at Czech Republic, she finished 16th. You can follow Eef’s path in her Instagram: eefvdongen

The ability of PWT to support young athletes comes partly from the sales of the Park World Tour 25 years memory book Made for loving it. The net proceeds from the book sales are used to support international youth orienteering as well as the PWT idea of taking orienteering to new destinations around the world. If you still have not acquired the book, you can get your copy here: https://www.parkworldtour.org/?product=made-for-loving-it

Among the favourites

Pinar Narter was Turkey’s first Park World Tour starter, cruising through La Favorita Park in Palermo, Italy 4.3.2006.

Photo: Lucie Navarová

For a while, local runner Michele Ciancia managed to keep up with Christian Nielsen in this first international orienteering event on the island of Sicily.

Photo: Lucie Navarová

What made Christian a worthy race winner? Read all the PWT maps and courses – and the stories behind them – in Made for loving it. Orienteering for a new generation.

Caught speeding

Photo: Anders Vestergård

The local police in Yuxi, China, with apprentices Martin Johansson and Ewan McCarthy, have stopped Øystein Kvaal Østerbø after the Park World Tour final 10.11.2005. ”You can’t judge the courses just by looking at the map at home. When you move through the terrain at a speed of sometimes below 3 minutes per kilometre, even the easiest of courses become challenging,” explains the champion.

Photo: Anders Vestergård

Who succeeded Simone Niggli-Luder on the women’s throne? And how many nations were represented on the 2005 final tour?
Catch more of the elite orienteers’ thoughts and experiences in Made for loving it. Orienteering for a new generation – and get out running yourself.

All on stage

Surprised by eager students in Hangzhou, China 6.11.2005, Mats Haldin was congratulated and photographed before the start of the West Lake Orienteering Festival.

Photo: Anders Vestergård

In the hometown of the national Student Orienteering Association and one of China’s most highly ranked universities, a technical novelty had just been introduced in the men’s Park World Tour race. Which one?

Find the answer – and one of the trickiest PWT tracks – in Made for loving it. Orienteering for a new generation.

See them fly

Confetti covered the crowded the start and finish area after a festive opening on 5.11.2005.

Photo: Brigitte Grüniger/Orienteering Today

Jinhua, China was dressed up like a bride, warmly welcoming the orienteers.

Photo: Michael Thulin

How many international top sport events had taken place in the town before the Park World Tour arrived?

Join the athletes of the definite direction in Made for loving it. Orienteering for a new generation. For peace.

She’s got it

Calm down, kids, the world’s best are coming
Mikiko Minagawa on the run in Suzhou, China 3.11.2005
… and is that the tower of Pisa behind Michela Guizzardi?
Photos: Anders Vestergård & Michael Thulin

+ Which control was the handheld one in Suzhou Amusement Land?

Get on the map and tricky tracks in Made for loving it – the tale of a new discipline that got another orienteering generation going.

Photos: Anders Vestergård & Michael Thulin

Long way around

They ran almost a kilometre – or more – between controls 12 and 13 at Weimeng Forest Resort in Shanghai, China 1.11.2005, the Park World Tour orienteers.


Who had climbed 5,892 metres ahead of the race? And who was the first Chinese to create a PWT map all by himself?

Learn from the forerunners of the sport in Made for loving it. Orienteering for a new generation – a book created by the course setter. And start searching for Orienteering Today 7/2005 (Warm thanks to Jan Skřička and Petr Hranička) to find the women’s route choice analysis – and who was fastest on leg 15–16.