What is Orienteering, a motor activity in vogue for years
Oriienteering is a motor activity that allows people to explore and learn about the territory, taking place mainly outdoors, in the midst of nature: forests, meadows and terrain of all kinds, including inaccessible ones. This is why it has a strong educational value: it encourages respect for the environment, develops independence and initiative, and promotes the recreational use of forests. Not surprisingly, it is also known as “the sport of the woods.”
Orient running originated in the Nordic countries in the early 20th century. The first national federation was founded in Sweden in 1919, followed by the other Scandinavian countries, the rest of Europe, and the United States. Growing interest in the discipline leads, in 1961, to the creation of the International Orienteering Federation. In Italy, orienteering arrives in 1974 and, five years later, in 1979, the Comitato Italiano Corsa d’Orientamento is founded. The discipline is recognized by CONI as associated with the Italian Athletics Federation and organized by F.I.S.O. (Italian Orienteering Sports Federation).
The races are time trials over varied terrain, where each participant, equipped with a compass and a topographical map with the route marked in red, must reach the finish line passing through a series of checkpoints. The start is indicated by a triangle, the finish by two concentric circles. The control points, called “lanterns” and numbered in sequential order, are marked with a code and equipped with a punching machine. The athlete, at each flag, must punch his or her race card into the corresponding box.
The maps used for orienteering depict the terrain in detail, using conventional graphic symbols that faithfully reproduce the natural and man-made features present. These maps are made from aerial photographs taken at a specific height. Using specialized tools, “stereophotogrammetric restitution” is carried out, resulting in a base map with landforms, communication routes and water areas.
Next, the cartographer walks the entire area to accurately capture any missing details. The final maps adhere to the official symbology established by the International Orienteering Federation, so they are understandable anywhere in the world. The symbols, which are simple and easy to memorize, are made in different colors, each associated with specific features of the terrain and objects depicted.
