My feedback to BO......
"You can run or walk? Add variety to their leisure activities? What?!? You don't see Triathlon or athletics doing the big sell to people to "push their bike or walk" yet they have people of all ages and abilities taking part. When will you realise that we are not a respected sport because we don't sell ourselves as a sport but rather as a pastime. Please do away with all references to "walking", "own pace". We should not be viewed as "runners" but as "athletes" or where necessary "participants"."
I'm sorry but when I go orienteering I "compete". I regard myself as an "athlete" and I try as hard as I can. I am motivated and inspired by what ours and the World's elite are doing and this is what spurs me into training and further competition.
I certainly haven't joined orienteering because it will provide an alternative to golf (a good walk unspoilt perhaps?) later on in life. If my knees go you'll see me moving to a-n-other SPORT where I can continue to be competitive.
BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
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BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
From small acorns great Oak trees grow.
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Lard - diehard
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
Here's the vision Lard refers to
Orienteering is the ‘go to’ competitive sport for people wanting to test themselves both physically and mentally.
Underpinning the vision are:
Raising the profile and public image of the sport
Strengthening the competitive infrastructure at the heart of the sport to ensure it meets the needs ofcompetitors
Sustained success at the World Orienteering Championships
Growing competitive orienteering and club membership
Increasing participation in recreational orienteering
Developing and supporting the people who organise orienteering and work with participants
Working with and supporting partners who wish to offer or use orienteering
Orienteering is an exciting and challenging outdoor sport that exercises both mind and body. The aim is to navigate between control points marked on an orienteering map; as a competitive sport the challenge is to complete the course in the quickest time choosing your own best route; as a recreational activity it does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run or walk, making progress at your own pace on the courses planned to suit you.
Orienteering can take place anywhere from remote forest and countryside to urban areas, parks andschool playgrounds. Orienteering is a fulfilling sport for runners and walkers of all ages who want to test themselves mentally as well as physically or who want to add variety to their leisure activities.
- SeanC
- god
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
Got to agree with Lard and Sean, our problem as a sport is we have to many old foggies that love a stroll in the countryside, but have no competitive spirit. To tell you the truth until we get rid of these punters we will never be taken serious as a sport.
- Catfish
- off string
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
Hey, I wasn't expressing an opinion, I just pasted the vision from the BO website
But since I'm here, I do think the vision needs to drop references to walking and activities. People know that in running sports the slower people run/walk, and references to walking/activities reinforces the myth that orienteering isn't a sport.
Using the word "athlete" might deter newbies who don't see themselves as athletes, but who nonetheless would see orienteering as a race to be done as fast as possible (run, walk or stagger).
I like the way ParkRun solves this elite runner vs newbie problem, and is a good example of a clear consise vision.
The BOF vision seems rather designed by a committee, designed to keep lots of people happy but lacking in clarity. What is it's purpose anyway BTW?
But since I'm here, I do think the vision needs to drop references to walking and activities. People know that in running sports the slower people run/walk, and references to walking/activities reinforces the myth that orienteering isn't a sport.
Using the word "athlete" might deter newbies who don't see themselves as athletes, but who nonetheless would see orienteering as a race to be done as fast as possible (run, walk or stagger).
I like the way ParkRun solves this elite runner vs newbie problem, and is a good example of a clear consise vision.
parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in.These events take place in pleasant parkland surroundings and we encourage people of every ability to take part; from those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience; we welcome you all.
The BOF vision seems rather designed by a committee, designed to keep lots of people happy but lacking in clarity. What is it's purpose anyway BTW?
- SeanC
- god
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
Lard wrote:I'm sorry but when I go orienteering I "compete".
Me too - so I find it strange that my travel insurance covers (amongst many other things) orienteering - but not for competitive or racing purposes. Looks like insurance companies also have a strange idea about our sport!
I agree with the comments, though - orienteering is basically a competitive, running sport, while still welcoming those who will walk part or even all of their courses. It just needs to be said differently, such as the parkrun example.
- roadrunner
- addict
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
SeanC wrote: . What is it's purpose anyway BTW?
Well the cycnic might say that its purpose is to tick all the boxes for the QANGO that dishes out money
thereby obtain as much funding as possible
If that is the case the trouble will be that its not really backed by conviction, because it was, in effect, dictated.
Visions lacking conviction don't often get very far.
If you could run forever ......
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Kitch - god
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
I don't think Catfish should be too hasty in getting rid of the old fogeys that love a stroll in the countryside. Many of them are heavily involved in mapping, planning and organising events.
- babs f
- light green
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
SeanC wrote:Here's the vision Lard refers toOrienteering is the ‘go to’ competitive sport for people wanting to test themselves both physically and mentally.
Underpinning the vision are:
Raising the profile and public image of the sport
Strengthening the competitive infrastructure at the heart of the sport to ensure it meets the needs ofcompetitors
Sustained success at the World Orienteering Championships
Growing competitive orienteering and club membership
Increasing participation in recreational orienteering
Developing and supporting the people who organise orienteering and work with participants
Working with and supporting partners who wish to offer or use orienteering
That part is the "Vision". The sentiment of the headline Vision is good but the phrasing seems awkward. The underpinning points could mutatis mutandis be used for any sport.
This part is "About Orienteering":
Orienteering is an exciting and challenging outdoor sport that exercises both mind and body. The aim is to navigate between control points marked on an orienteering map; as a competitive sport the challenge is to complete the course in the quickest time choosing your own best route; as a recreational activity it does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run or walk, making progress at your own pace on the courses planned to suit you.
Orienteering can take place anywhere from remote forest and countryside to urban areas, parks andschool playgrounds. Orienteering is a fulfilling sport for runners and walkers of all ages who want to test themselves mentally as well as physically or who want to add variety to their leisure activities.
which I would suggest is omitted entirely. My Vision for orienteering would include never needing to explain what it is...
You can make your views known to BO via the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VFR2WS2, where the "Vision" and "About Orienteering" parts are discussed separately. There is a box for "any further comments".
"The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare" - Juma Ikangaa
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jac - white
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
Kitch wrote:Well the cycnic might say that its purpose is to tick all the boxes for the QANGO that dishes out money
thereby obtain as much funding as possible
If that is the case the trouble will be that its not really backed by conviction, because it was, in effect, dictated.
Visions lacking conviction don't often get very far.
Must disagree with this! From the June 2015 Board minutes...
The Board was unanimous in agreeing that the vision and strategy is for orienteering and should not take into account any government themes as expressed by the sports councils. Where such themes fit with the orienteering vision that will be beneficial, hopefully through funding support, but these themes should not influence the vision.
- daffdy
- orange
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
I've mixed up the ParkRun description with bits of the BO description of orienteering. Better?
Orienteering is an exciting and challenging sport where competitors must navigate between control points in the shortest possible time using only a map and compass. They are open to everyone, are cheap, and are safe to take part in.
Orienteering races take place in many inspiring places, from remote forests and mountainsides to urban areas. The sport encourages people of every ability to take part; from those taking their first steps in running and map reading to athletes, from juniors the more experienced. They are open to everyone and welcoming to everyone.
- SeanC
- god
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
Perhaps Catfish would like to have a go at this year's Lake District Mountain Trial (interestingly the oldest orienteering event in Britain by some distance) and see how that goes compared with these slow oldies. I 've never read such arrogant intolerant nonsense in my life. When did Sigurd Daehli, Eddie Harwood, Peter Haines, Steve Whitehead and many many more turn into couch potatoes?
- mykind
- orange
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
I think you'll find Catfish forgot to put a on the end of his post!
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Mrs H - god
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
Lard wrote:"You can run or walk? "...
I'm sorry but when I go orienteering I "compete". I regard myself as an "athlete" and I try as hard as I can.
The full quote identifies two groups:
"as a competitive sport ... as a recreational activity..."
You can be in the first, and I'm happy to be in the second category most of the time, albeit with "running" as my recreational activity. From time to time I compete such that I care about my position. I don't see that the existence of the recreational group in any way undermines the athletes, or indeed our respect for them and what they do.
Other not-entirely-uncompetitive sports are secure enough to cope with the noncompetitive.
WOC2024 Edinburgh
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
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graeme - god
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
I make it abundantly clear
That I run when I orienteer.
To say that I walk
Is insulting talk
And I'll give you a flea in your ear
That I run when I orienteer.
To say that I walk
Is insulting talk
And I'll give you a flea in your ear
- Gnitworp
- addict
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Re: BO's 2025 Vision - Draft
Once upon a time, non-competitive 'recreational' orienteering was referred to as 'wayfaring', leaving orienteering for the competitive running sport. Thus the likes of SLOW!
Yes - but then most people could tell you what 'cycling' is.
graeme wrote:Other not-entirely-uncompetitive sports are secure enough to cope with the noncompetitive.
Yes - but then most people could tell you what 'cycling' is.
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awk - god
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