Worlds best orienteers are heading to Norway these days to compete at the first Orienteering World Cup Round of 2023, which begins Thursday in Østfold in the south-eastern corner of the country.
Over the course of four days, 262 athletes from 31 countries will race a Long distance, a Middle distance and a Relay in the fight for World Cup points and glory.
Its been a little more than 200 days since Tove Alexandersson (SWE) and Kasper Fosser (NOR) lifted the World Cup 2022 trophies in Switzerland and both of the reigning World Cup winners are ready to start the defence of their titles in Norway.
Tove Alexandersson won the overall World Cup 2022 ahead of Simona Aebersold (SUI) and Andrine Benjaminsen (NOR).
Sweden, who won last year’s overall Team World Cup, has registered the largest numbers of athletes for the races – 22 in total – with Norway (20) and Denmark, Finland and Switzerland following with 18 athletes.
All three races take place from the same arena – the go-carting track KNA Varna – which is situated approximately 10 kilometers from the WOC 2019 arena.
Back then Tove Alexandersson won both the Middle and Long women’s races, while now retired Olav Lundanes (NOR) took both golds in the men’s class. Sweden won both relays.
Kasper Fosser lifts the World Cup 2022 trophy in Davos – Martin Regborn (SWE), Gustav Bergman (SWE) and Emil Svensk (SWE) occupied the subsequent positions.
As always, there will be great opportunities to follow races if you can’t be at the arena in Norway.
All races are available at IOF’s new streaming platform IOF TV with English commentary by Katherine Bett and Jonas Merz. The price is 9/25 EUR for one/all races. Se timetable below.
Several national TV stations broadcast the races as well: NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), YLE (Finland) and Czech TV (Czechia).
Go to IOF LIVE for start times, live results and tracking
Go to IOF TV to get your ticket for the broadcast and watch the races
Program:
All times CEST (UTC+2)
Thursday, 27 April
Long distance
9:45 First start women
10:10 First start men
13:30 – 17:30 Web-TV on IOF TV
Saturday, 29 April
Middle distance
12:15 First start men
14:30 First start women
15:30 – 19:00 Web-TV on IOF TV
Sunday, 30 April
Relay
13:00 – 17:00 Web-TV on IOF TV
13:05 Start Men
15:00 Start Women