This could be good news for orienteering over the longer term if the sport can keep going well with the newer formats...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/30374234
Olympics 28-sport cap to be removed
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Re: Olympics 28-sport cap to be removed
This is being seen as a positive by the SkiO community.
SkiO probably has a higher chance of being included before FootO (or TrailO) and it is already included in many large multi-sport events.
JK
SkiO probably has a higher chance of being included before FootO (or TrailO) and it is already included in many large multi-sport events.
JK
JK
- JK
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Re: Olympics 28-sport cap to be removed
I have previously watched cross country skiing on television and despite the fact you can only see the competitors some of the time the excitement comes from seeing how each competitor compares to another against the clock. You just see each competitor in a particular bit of forest, or open track and often on their own if they have started off at timed intervals rather than mass starts.
If Ski -O had some compulsory routes where the TV cameras were this could generate equal excitement and spectator value even if the audience didn't realise what ski orienteering actually was.
If Ski -O had some compulsory routes where the TV cameras were this could generate equal excitement and spectator value even if the audience didn't realise what ski orienteering actually was.
- canol
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Re: Olympics 28-sport cap to be removed
canol wrote:I have previously watched cross country skiing on television and despite the fact you can only see the competitors some of the time the excitement comes from seeing how each competitor compares to another against the clock. You just see each competitor in a particular bit of forest, or open track and often on their own if they have started off at timed intervals rather than mass starts.
If Ski -O had some compulsory routes where the TV cameras were this could generate equal excitement and spectator value even if the audience didn't realise what ski orienteering actually was.
No - you don't want that. There will be some paths that all competitors will take and those are the ones with the controls on them. The excitement comes from the route choices like at all big O spectator events. They use maps with route tracing on just like they do for events like WOC or Jukola. You can see the route choices and where people are, and for interval start formats you can replay routes for comparison.
You don't need to worry about setting up cameras for SkiO since there is no fine navigation per se, it is all about choosing your route and sticking to it as you nearly always follow the tracks. Controls are ALWAYS on the paths (unless it is some low level event). Note that they are not on path junctions - always along a path segment.
BTW although Sprint/Urban is cited as the most likely form for Olympics, it is also possibly the worst for GPS since the buildings block the signals quite a bit with current technology.
JK
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Re: Olympics 28-sport cap to be removed
Therefore the "compulsory routes" are those through controls, where TV spectators can receive an indication of each competitor's time up to that point. Director advice would be required whether all competitors should only travel through in one direction, or whether the 'route choice' would be clear from the direction of approach (as JK states, controls along a path, not at junctions) - but wide path required to minimise skiing crashing into each other (or a rule on which side to pass other skiers).
Cross country skiing has its spectator aficionados, as does 10000m running. The pleasure is probably from watching and understanding extreme exertion, some uncertainty in the result, and great skill. Biathlon arguably has the more enthusiastic spectators, as there is more uncertainty in the result (due to the shooting component) and the additional, contrary, skill involved. Plus the atmosphere of a crowd concentrated at the range. Biathlon is very much a minority sport, so most spectators are not competitors, and probably never have been as adults. I sense the link with an urban sprint area - the psychological pressure of decision-making in close competition. Ski-O will probably be more attractive to spectators (and thus to sponsors) in a similar sprint format, around a 'stadium' complex (lots of quick decisions in a small space), rather than long 'classic' events. Indeed WC cross country courses are now not longer than 3.3km, to give plenty of opportunity for spectators , and cameras, to see them more often.
MTBO should also have a good chance of becoming a spectator sport - quick decisions, hard to reverse, with the added 'thrill' of potential spills.
Cross country skiing has its spectator aficionados, as does 10000m running. The pleasure is probably from watching and understanding extreme exertion, some uncertainty in the result, and great skill. Biathlon arguably has the more enthusiastic spectators, as there is more uncertainty in the result (due to the shooting component) and the additional, contrary, skill involved. Plus the atmosphere of a crowd concentrated at the range. Biathlon is very much a minority sport, so most spectators are not competitors, and probably never have been as adults. I sense the link with an urban sprint area - the psychological pressure of decision-making in close competition. Ski-O will probably be more attractive to spectators (and thus to sponsors) in a similar sprint format, around a 'stadium' complex (lots of quick decisions in a small space), rather than long 'classic' events. Indeed WC cross country courses are now not longer than 3.3km, to give plenty of opportunity for spectators , and cameras, to see them more often.
MTBO should also have a good chance of becoming a spectator sport - quick decisions, hard to reverse, with the added 'thrill' of potential spills.
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