MICRO O in WOC 2006 for Middle
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MICRO O in WOC 2006 for Middle
At WOC 2005, the IOF council voted to bow to the requests of two TV companies (Norways TV2 and a Danish one) to change the middle distant format to include Micro O. Unless you followed the Nordics, you probably wont know anything about it. This brings up a whole host of issues. Most athletes I would say are sceptical about this and would rather not have it. It is basically trail O in the middle of a middle with athletes running a penalty loop for each control cluster they fail to get right, just like in biathlon. Well this may be understandable to Scandies, are many other countries around the world going to? Why are we having something new in WOC that has only been trialed once, in NOC 2005. How can athletes train for this? At present there are no plans to put micro O on in any other event around the globe before WOC, but it has become part of the World Championships. The IOF want to be part of the Olympics and for that we need TV coverage of WOCs. But are we selling out?
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Ravinous - light green
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I could be cynical and say we've already sold out. Two examples:
Racing around a park and/or street-o used to be for summer informals when the bracken was too high - now you can be world champion at it!
Spectator controls - always results in an easy control then a silly little loop at the end of a good classic race.
So if this micr-o is going to get the crowds going then why not? However I'm not sure it will.
Racing around a park and/or street-o used to be for summer informals when the bracken was too high - now you can be world champion at it!
Spectator controls - always results in an easy control then a silly little loop at the end of a good classic race.
So if this micr-o is going to get the crowds going then why not? However I'm not sure it will.
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FatBoy - addict
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I watched the Micro-O material on the web ready to like it but did not. Maybe time will tell. Perhaps it ties in with my dislike of Trail-O,although they are different! In response to Fatboy's comments about Sprint-O, I watched it (and have 'run' it) and loved it.
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awk - god
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I enjoy sprint-o - I was one of only a few to do all 6 SYO races this summer. My point is it used to be a training exercise or a bit of fun in the summer. Now it's a WOC discipline. Why? Because it's better on TV I suspect. The good news for me is that when I do those fun races in summer the maps are better and the courses more suited to parks - i.e. short legs etc. In other words becoming a WOC discipline has improved summer informals!
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FatBoy - addict
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While the sprint format may have been brought in to boost the spectator friendliness of the sport, i don't believe that it dilutes the sport anywhere near the way that the introduction of Micro-O would.
Sprint racing, through PWT & WOC races etc has brought the sport into the public eye and has developed into a great format. All the original components of orienteering are still there and as such it is still (IMO) a true test of orienteering ability, planning and implementation of route choices and navigation needs more intense split second decisions than would normally be necessary.
Micro-O, while I think its an interesting concept, is in the same league as novelty event concepts such as the events in 100m² or whatever it is, great for one offs and grabbing some public attention but not something that you can seriously pass off as a world championship deciding concept, its just pandering to the TV companies and moving away from the basic elements of orienteering racing.
Sprint racing, through PWT & WOC races etc has brought the sport into the public eye and has developed into a great format. All the original components of orienteering are still there and as such it is still (IMO) a true test of orienteering ability, planning and implementation of route choices and navigation needs more intense split second decisions than would normally be necessary.
Micro-O, while I think its an interesting concept, is in the same league as novelty event concepts such as the events in 100m² or whatever it is, great for one offs and grabbing some public attention but not something that you can seriously pass off as a world championship deciding concept, its just pandering to the TV companies and moving away from the basic elements of orienteering racing.
“Success is 99% failure� -- Soichiro Honda
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brooner - [nope] cartel
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I don't think micro O should be thrown into the WOC. Its not established as part of a middle distance race at any other events so shouldn't be in WOC. The middle distance is an exciting enough format to be able to have good TV coverage if planned right & TV companies are committed by using enough resources.
Its good to here that TV companies are interested in covering WOC & i do think its necessary to adjust the courses to suit coverage but i don't think Micro O is the way to do it.
Surely its the Classic that needs serious thought to make exciting TV viewing?
Its good to here that TV companies are interested in covering WOC & i do think its necessary to adjust the courses to suit coverage but i don't think Micro O is the way to do it.
Surely its the Classic that needs serious thought to make exciting TV viewing?
'great athletes come back from great setbacks' - Brendan Foster
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Wattok - [nope] cartel
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I Like the idea, but with the quality of the worlds orienteers it may not actually make that much difference to the leading places, so it probably won't work.
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rob f - yellow
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have to agree with WattOK entirely. a well planned middle race, gps tracking, 3d or catching features style map graphics and 4/5 forest cameras make the whole race visible and about as understandable as the micro format without diluting the concept.
maybe i'd feel differently after running one, i expect we'll see one in the ukcup next year but where or when who knows.
maybe i'd feel differently after running one, i expect we'll see one in the ukcup next year but where or when who knows.
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rocky - [nope] cartel
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What I find strange is they are doing this stupid format to make orienteering more appealing to the media, but the people at home infornt of their TVs still wont watch it, no matter what you do, peopole don't care for orienteering, so why become a sell out with no soul?
This is complete BS.
This is complete BS.
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mharky - team nopesport
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mharky wrote:the people at home infornt of their TVs still wont watch it, no matter what you do, peopole don't care for orienteering
That may be true in the UK, but not in Scandinavia. I think a lot of people there will watch it, and presumably so do the Norwegian and Danish TV companies, otherwise they wouldn't be interested.
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Spookster - god
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Well orienteering isn't showing *that* much sign of becoming a spectator sport at the moment - not round here anyway, so I'm generally against sacrificing competitor enjoyment for TV/spectator purposes - and I guess as Ravinous says, that most elites outside Scandi wouldn't be very happy if the WOC that they have been training very hard for includes innovations that the Scandinavian runners have had practise at, and they haven't.
On the other hand I am pro-innovation, and orienteering is about challenge, and the elites should be motivated by a new challenge, and it is good to court the TV companies if we can.
So on balance I guess that I would be mildly for, as long as there are some events organised in the UK/elsewhere that the non-Scandi runners get a chance to get some practise in.
On the other hand I am pro-innovation, and orienteering is about challenge, and the elites should be motivated by a new challenge, and it is good to court the TV companies if we can.
So on balance I guess that I would be mildly for, as long as there are some events organised in the UK/elsewhere that the non-Scandi runners get a chance to get some practise in.
- Guest88
Boring old stick in the muds the lot of you! I tried it at Varstaffen this April and it was really really really good fun. Kept you on your toes, great for spectators, don't knock it until you've tried it (and it has to be welll planned).
- housewife
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the middle distance at woc 2004 was the best spectator experience of orienteering i have ever had.
i'm sure micro o is very fun and great training but am unconvinced about adding it an already great format. the woc long is dull to watch, why not add it here instead?
i would prefer to see this format trialled in a few world cup races/national championships/world ranking events before being thrown into our flagship event.
i'm sure micro o is very fun and great training but am unconvinced about adding it an already great format. the woc long is dull to watch, why not add it here instead?
i would prefer to see this format trialled in a few world cup races/national championships/world ranking events before being thrown into our flagship event.
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harry - addict
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