World Games in Colombia

[DJM]

Only one reference to this to date in nopesport, but the World Games starts in Cali, Colombia in only 11 days time (http://worldgames2013.com.co/en/).

Orienteering is apparently a "Trend Sport" and is present, as usual, in the form of Sprint and Middle Distance individual races and a Mixed Sprint Relay. The British team looks strong

Men - Scott Fraser, Murray Strain
Women - Tessa Hill, Catherine Taylor

especially in the Mixed Relay where the following quotes appear on the IOF website

I think GB have a very strong team and it’s about time we brought a gold back to the UK!!! [Scott Fraser]
Looking at who each country is bringing, the Swiss and Swedes are sure to be up there, but it looks like Great Britain are really bringing their sprint A-team [Alison Crocker]
Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have a good chance to win [Øystein Kvaal Østerbø]

So, no pressure then!

More at http://orienteering.org/11-days-to-the-world-games-who-will-be-the-big-winner-in-cali/

[DJM]

From the IOF Office:

The World Games model event takes place today in Cali, Colombia, and the competitions kick off on Friday.

The Games can be followed online (results, tracking, TV) on this page: http://wg2013.orienteering.org/ and there is a live chat on the IOF website: http://orienteering.org/the-world-games-chat/

Furthermore, news articles, interviews and photos will be published on the IOF website (http://www.orienteering.org) and on the IOF Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/IOFarena.

[Spookster]

So the first race, on Friday, is Sprint. Cali is conveniently 6 hours behind UK time, so we can run at the 6 Days first, then get back in time for a cup of tea and live orienteering from Columbia, with live streamed TV and GPS tracking.

First women start 10am (4pm UK)
Tessa Hill 10:26
Cat Taylor 10:28

First men start 11am (5pm)
Scott Fraser 11:17
Murray Strain 11:24

http://wg2013.orienteering.org/start-sprint.html

[ER]

And then watch some dance sport! aka Strictly Come Dancing.
http://www.worldgames2013.com.co/en/spo ... ports.html

Some of the activities going on in the World Games look amazing to watch; looks more fun and interesting than the Olympics. Orienteering is designated a "Trend Sport" along with a sport called Flying Disc - aka Frisbee, and other sports that cannot be fitted into a category.

GBR is lying 9th in the medal table between Japan and Columbia with 6 Gold, 5 Silver and 3 bronze - for water skiing, archery, billiards, and tug of war to name but a few that we have excelled in. Let's hope we add to our tally tomorrow. These games seem to be being ignored by GBR media and it is not just because a test match is on.

2017 they are in Poland - will be going just to spectate the Artistic Roller Skating.

[Adrian]

It beggars belief that these Games have been virtually ignored by the media - who built up such a huge audience at the Olympics and these Games would've been a cheap way to keep the momentum going. Having said that, the WG organisers don't seem to have learnt very much from the OG with respect to selling tickets and generating excitement. Maybe Poland will be better.

[Gross]

BOF / GBR didn't support orienteering going into the WG originally... from memory it was a money thing. But it was carried with the support of the East European nations who had no funding problems as it came under the umbrella of their NOC & therefore was funded by them & not orienteering. Not sure if it's the same now

[Adrian]

Now happily ensconced watching the race in Cali - a real sprint: a few gridiron streets and an urban park. A scenic 1500m. Focus and RUN! http://tv.theworldgames2013.com/en/live ... 7D54810221

[Adrian]

Tracking http://traclive.dk/events/event_2013073 ... bf48d758ce

[Kitch]

"problem loading positional data"
no tracking for me

please can you supply updates ?

[Adrian]

Live results at http://liveresults.ch/WG2013/sprint-women.html Currently Bllstam Kauppi Crocker Taylor at halfway

[Adrian]

Example of tracking (men's map by mistake!) http://twitpic.com/d639lv

[Adrian]

Cat will be sad she started running the wrong way round the loop but she and Tessa weren't quite in the medal hunt today. Looked very sapping. Planning not bad but course perhaps 200m too long.

[Kitch]

Still a top 10 for Tessa, with a list of names ahead
Great to see a top result from Alison Crocker for USA

[Kitch]

Scotia provisional lead at #6

[Kitch]

...official lead

I like this clock time for the next radio control thing they have going.
i.e. runner hasn't reached it but this is hoew long they've taken not to get there yet