The ISF and the International Orienteering federation (IOF) recently held an online meeting.
Back in 2016, the ISF and IOF signed a Memorandum of Understanding to give a stronger framework to their relations. Since then, regular meetings have been held to evaluate the common projects and developments. At the meeting, ISF was represented by Kole Gjeloshaj, Deputy Secretary General/CEO, Josip Kosutic, Sports Director, Karl Keuppens TC Chair and Irene Retis Junior Sports Manager, and on the side of the IOF, by Tom Hollowell, IOF Secretary General, Susanne Rutz, Janos Manarin, Johan Larsson, Patrick Kunz, and Jenny Nilsson.
The main topics discussed were on the ISF orienteering events, as it is a compulsory sport integrated within the ISF Gymnasiade and the U15 World School Sport Games. Discussions focused on the frequency of events and their format. As part of the development of both organisations the necessity to combine efforts in having more school sport federations from all over the world to officially add orienteering to their list of recognised sports, has been underlined.
The IOF presented the concept of World Orienteering Day on 19 May, celebrated for a full week lasting until the 25 May. All partners of the IOF are invited to take part in this celebration that will contribute to raising awareness of the sport and its educational aspects.
The Meeting tackled a great number of topics with the common goal of strengthening the cooperation between the two federations. With a long history starting back in 1987 and spanning a total of 18 organised events, orienteering is one of the most successful ISF events, gathering over 800 participants. The next events where orienteering will be included in the sport programmes are the World School Championships and the U15 World School Sport Games, both being held this year in Belgrade, Serbia.
The participants stressed the need to share more knowledge and experience and to start cooperating in a more structured way within the initiatives of their members and take advantage of the variety of members to further develop and cooperate with the activities of each federation. Therefore, ISF expressed its active support for the World Orienteering Day which will be held, between 19 May and 25 May 2021.
