Visibility of orienteering We shall aim to: - increase the visibility of our sport by organising our events closer to where people are - make our event centres more attractive by giving increased attention to the design and quality of installations - improve the event centre atmosphere, and the excitement, by having both start and finish at the centre - increase television and other media coverage by ensuring that our events provide more and better opportunities for producing thrilling sports programmes - improve media service by better catering for the needs of media representatives (in terms of communication facilities, access to runners at start/finish and in the forest, continuous intermediate time information, food and beverages, etc) - pay more attention to promoting our sponsors and external partners in connection with our IOF events We, the Members of the IOF, expect that these measures shall be considered by all future organisers of IOF events."
Jørn Sundby, WOC SEA Present at 14 WOCs since 1997.Roles: Organiser, spectator, journalist, speaker, coach, jury, SEA. Present at 11 JWOCs since 1993.Roles: Athlete, coach, spectator, journalist, speaker. Numerous events as organiser, speaker, course setter on national and international level. Working in TV last 15 years (Eurosport/NOR TV2). Currently TV2 commentator, Media services Infostrada Sports, Speaker/organiser events
Visibility in Orienteering More important than ever before
IOC Christmas gift 2014 Olympic Agenda 2020 Organising committees can propose the addition of "one or more additional events, with the Games programme becoming more events-based rather than sports-based. "Now the door is open (for sports). The IOC by itself can also take a decision that we are adding this or that event. IOC President Thomas Bach Nov 2014.
NEW WOC 2014 Down from seven to six races Increase from four to five finals, sprint relay NEW Total running time for top male athlete reduced by 1 hr 15 minutes, if running all events. More space in program, for athletes, teams and organisers. More athletes and countries can run a WOC-final Some athletes (25 W /35 M) miss out on Long/Middle Q Positive and negative effects.
NEW WOC Facts Relay teams Women Men 2014 28 34 2013 26 33 2012 27 35 2011 27 40 2010 28 30 2009 24 38 2008 26 36
Sprint Relay New event inexperienced organiser Playing safe no risks Successful event......but lots to learn and improve. Arena concept, start, change over. Punching Competition area more mixed Underestimated challenge with streets
Sprint Relay BIG POTENTIAL!
NEW WOC 2014 Facts Women Long 68 comp start 2 hrs 15 mins. Prev 45/ 1hr 30 Men Long 84 comp start 2 hrs 45 mins. Prev 45/ 1 hr 30 Women Middle 70 comp start 1 hrs 45 mins. Prev 45/ 1 hr 30 Men Middle 83 comp start 2 hrs 00 mins. Prev 45 /1 hr 30 Rules deviation: Long 2mins /Middle 1.30 mins Long race overlapping Middle race runs seperately
Starting groups Based on World Ranking List (Middle/Long) Group 1 (10 athletes) RED Group Group 2 (15 athletes) YELLOW GROUP Group 3 (15 athletes) GREEN group Group 4- (minimum 15 athletes) Start order drawn randomly within the groups Order of groups may be varied by SEA s advance notification! How good is World Ranking?
Starting groups Group 1-10 W 1-10 M 11-25 W 11-25 M 26-40 W 26-40 M Group 1 6 6 3 1 1 0 Group 2 3 4 8 8 3 3 Group 3 1 0 3 3 8 9 Group 4-0 0 1 3 3 3
Visibility TV-product Live coverage of all WOCs since 2008. Variations in quality, minimum standard mostly reached. GPS-tracking key to successful forest-broadcast Live and edited programs. Live: FIN, SWE, NOR, SUI?, CZE? Reach more customers Edited programs are the entrance to live. TV-product is NOT made for orienteers. Long list of ideas/possible improvement. Budget.
Visibility Arena Why come to the arena? Who comes to the arena? Why do we want people to come to the arena? Who do we want to come to the arena? Start? Arena passages? Screen?
Visibility Arena
Visibility Event Ceremonies Press Conferences Start numbers Public races Pre-made material Social media Working conditions for media
Visibility in the future The athlete is the star! Spectators want to see the athletes. Spectators want to get to know the athletes. Orienteers only interested in own race? Always? Athletes can be profiles (Kauppi/Niggli) also outside core fans Events must contribute to increase the visibility and popularity of athletes. Sport is entertainment!
Future development Think presentation from Day 1! Get closer to athletes- bigger profiles Pre-made TV-material/arenaproduction Reach more people with presentation Improve course and arena concepts GPS-tracking a MUST for presentation
Future development Live Center Media services Touch free punching? No control description? Fit cameramen? Events on separate days?
Course and Arena concepts Compact! Think perfect- don t think acceptable Athletes at start- atmosphere- urban. TV-planning, costs, entertainment Concepts first- course planning later. Course planner not the only king of the castle Arena: Screen comes first Athletes close to spectators- in front Compromises is an enemy Kenneth Buch 7 Feb 15
Visibility course concept
IOF Event program IOF main event brand WOC not enough Who needs the World Cup? Fixed calendar National Federations 365 days of visibility needed
Success? Olympic Games 2024......or 2028... Or...? Let s do this together!