BOF and the World Masters Games

[EddieH]

I see that BOF feels that a couple of videos of the World Masters Games ceremonies in some way is a part of our sport.

Well having seen this I cannot imagine why I would have gone - this is what our huge entry fee went on? a couple of giant parties!

If you think I'm being cynical and you weren't there you might like to know that the bureaucratic organisers insisted that without going to accreditation we would not be allowed to start.

Yet when we arrived in the early afternoon the day before our morning starts there was a 6 hour queue The organisers remained adamant that we'd not be allowed to start without queuing. Realising that it was manifestly impossible that everyone in all sports could possibly manage this we disappeared expecting the morning to be okay.

Nevertheless inevitably we did wonder what would happen and if we really would be prevented from starting. In the event we arrived at the orienteering (no games officials in sight) and within 10 seconds had all we needed for the week.

There are very few of us that want to see anything like this happen again - we are fed up with this one-sided tie in with the WMG, and just wish the IOF would see some sense.

Just take a look at the videos - how on earth could that help the elite get into the Olympics???

The attitude of most games competitors that I met fitted the party atmosphere portrayed to a tee - they were there for a bit of fun and to give it a go - there was general astonishment that anyone was actually taking their sport seriously - a really great push for the Olympics

[simonbeck8848]

So nobody has replied to your post, Eddie. I occasionally post something which doesnt get a reply, do people agree? How can anyone disagree with your post? The facts speak for themselves, how can the IOF possibly be so out of touch with what orienteers want, I suppose it is indeed this cloud cookoo olympic fantasy (it is indeed annoying that o isnt an olympic sport but i think that is one of the things that cant be changed)

I feel a bit sorry for addicts like you who feel they have to go to the masters games, so few orienteers from Europe went in 2009, can the winners really call themselves the world's best? The whole thing seems farcical although with such a high proportion of the worlds orienteers focussed in one little bit of the world it's always gonig to be difficult

Simon

[EddieH]

Well, the numbers were well down, (and I may yet decide to boycott the next WMG in Italy if I thought it had a hope of being more than a gesture,) but there was still plenty of quality - I think the winners should have no qualms about their titles.

[simonbeck8848]

Didn't Jon Musgrave start some sort of body called the 'union of orienteering runners' or similar? Presumably it folded, or did it? How should we respond when governing bodies force something on competitors that is clearly against the wishes of the majority?

[mikey]

How should we respond when governing bodies force something on competitors that is clearly against the wishes of the majority?

Don't go?

[JEP]

As I understand it Turin has applied to IOF to stage the World Master Orienteering in 2012 while the World Masters Games is in 2013. Certainly the former will offer better value judging by the rip off in Sydney. Will IOF do the decent thing or will they be seduced by the illusiary advantages of politics and persuade Turin to change?

Pity really that the orienteering organisation was below par with lots of iffy controlling. Voided course, blue left off some maps in the final, taping off after course half through in Sprint Final, poor assembly lay-out for the final blamed on IOF Event Adviser etc.

[Ravinous]

The 2012 Italian bid which had all the necessary backing of the National, Regional and Italian Olympic Federation was for Puglia, way in the south - nothing to do with Turin. As far as I am aware, nobody in Turin, nor the National OF or ITA Olympic Assoc. are in favour or want? or have offered to host WMOC 2013 there.
I am awaiting some sort of official explanation, minutes from the IOF Council meeting to try and understand why they did what they did.
I will probably have an 'exciting' article in FEB10 CompassSport on the issue when I have the full facts and the IOF have had a chance to put their side of the story - at the moment they are looking a fairly pointless non-democratic organisation - but I am sure I am missing something and this is far too harsh a comment - at least I am hoping very much so!