World Games

[LostOldTimer]

Ok, so keep the Elite, but let the 'ordinary' (inferior???) orienteer benefit from some of British orienteering / Sports Council (taxpayers) money too.
And just how many full-time / paid British Orienteering employees are there?

It is still a very good idea to offer competitors taking part in World Masters competitions the opportunity to fly the flag for Britain and wear a British Suit - which could affordably be given by certain Sportswear sellers as they do to the British Squad.
When the athletes parade at both the World Games opening ceremony at the Sydney olympic stadium no-less, and the Orienteering opening ceremony, they will ALL be representing Great Britain - just not the chosen priveleged few. Plus they will have sacrificed a lot more in time, and money to take part in the event.

[mharky]

Just because everyone at the World Masters is a codger, doesn't mean they have sacrificed more time to be there.

You will not be representing Great Britain. BOF has not selected you as a representative for this country. It's a money-making holiday event that anyone over the age of 35 can enter at their free will. It is no more an international competition than the o-ringen or Fin5. And those races are a lot harder to win.

Why not use the freedom of information act to answer some of your questions.

[madmike]

Well, there's over 100 countries without a recognised Orienteering Federation.
LOT could emigrate , set up his own OF, and then run for them at WOC

didn't someone like Geoff Peck do exactly that for WOC99 or am I going senile?

[Gross]

Geoff ran for Hong Kong at WOC99 (or maybe in '97).... but I think a lot of that was to do with the transition from a UK colony to part of China.... similar to the fact that Scots / Welsh & Irish don't want a GB team at football in the Olympics.

PWT has done more to open up orienteering in China than most........ and of course Goran A wrote a book that was translated into Chinese........

[distracted]

... they will ALL be representing Great Britain - just not the chosen priveleged few. Plus they will have sacrificed a lot more in time, and money to take part in the event.

So anyone can go, but only if you can afford the time and money to be able to do so... Doesn't that make them part of the privileged few, LOT?

[Gross]

And just how many full-time / paid British Orienteering employees are there?
.

Have a look on the BOF website:

http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/about/staff.php

[JEP]

Triathlon has Age Group World Champs - starting at 25. I am pretty sure anyone can enter but there maybe qualifying times - not sure about that. Competitors have to pay their own way. Anyway British Triathlon produce kit for anyone running - which they can to buy. Brings in quite a bit of income. Competitors think its great.

[mharky]

Don't you have to qualify for the Champs though?

[Dave]

Anyway British Triathlon produce kit for anyone running - which they can to buy. Brings in quite a bit of income. Competitors think its great.

this isnt completely unknown in orienteering..I think orienteers in the US can just order as much of the international kit as they want (paying for it themselves)...you can even buy British MTBO kit on ebay...
I dont think this is right though...I think it shouldnt be something earned, by selection to compete

[DanH]

You have to qualify for the triathlon AG champs. 20 places per 5 year age group with top 4 from 3 qualifying races and various pre-qualification criteria. Sounds easy in theory but it's incredibly competitive as I found out on Sunday, for 25-29 you need to be able to do under 2:06 for Olympic distance triathlon (equates to roughly 24min for 1500m swim, 62min for 40km bike 38min for 10km run and 2mins for transitions), a level of competition that ensures that only athletes with a chance of doing well qualify, something I'm not so sure you'd see in orienteering with the vastly reduced numbers near the top end. If you qualify you then have to buy the kit to compete - not cheap! http://www.britishtriathlonshop.org/default.aspx