The countdown is over and this weekend, thousands of orienteers will take on one of the most iconic challenges in sport as the Jukola and Venla relays are held in Kotka on the southern coast of Finland.
The action will be broadcast live on IOF TV in a high-quality TV production with English (Katherine Bett and Mårten Boström) and Swedish (Per Forsberg and Sara Eskilsson) commentary, bringing the excitement directly to orienteering fans around the globe.
Photo: Harri Pajula
More than 3,400 teams have registered to compete across the two relays, with the women’s Venla Relay taking place on Saturday afternoon and the seven-leg Jukola Relay starting late on Saturday evening and continuing through the Finnish summer night into Sunday morning.
The Swedish side IFK Göteborg won a comfortable Venla-victory last year in Mikkeli ahead of OK Linné (SWE) and IFK’s second team. Furthermore, the team from western Sweden won the Women’s 10Mila-relay in May and must be considered favourites to the win in Kotka. Västerviks OK (SWE) and Suunta Jyväskylä (FIN) completed the podium in Tranås.
IFK Göteborg’s winning team in 2025: Sara Hagström, Malin Agervig Kristiansson, Sanna Fasth, Simona Aebersold. Photo: Kimmo Hirvonen/Mikkeli-Jukola
Stora Tuna OK (SWE) are racing for their seventh consecutive win in the men’s Jukola relay after they continued their streak last year, where NTNUI (NOR) and Helsingin Sunnistajat (FIN) joined them on the podium.
Stora Tuna OK could celebrate their sixth consecutive win last year. Photo: Samu Romo/Mikkeli-Jukola
In the men’s class, this year’s 10Mila was dominated by Finnish teams, as Kalevan Rasti won ahead of Helsingin Sunnistajat, while Nydalens SK (NOR) were third.
Fans can follow every crucial moment live on IOF TV, from the mass starts and dramatic night legs to the decisive battles for victory on Sunday morning.
The broadcast schedule includes full coverage of both relays, featuring expert commentary, GPS tracking, athlete interviews and spectacular images from the Finnish forests.