The world’s best orienteers return to the forest, when the 2024 European Orienteering Championships begin in Hungary on Friday.
Exactly one month after the World Orienteering Championships ended with an exhilarating Knock-Out Sprint on the hard surfaces of Edinburgh, the EOC kicks off with the middle distance qualification in the challenging, hilly terrain of central Hungary.
More than 300 athletes from 35 countries are participating in the championships, which also count as Round 3 in this year’s Orienteering World Cup.
Saturday is the middle distance final, Sunday offers the long distance before the relays finish the event on Tuesday afternoon.
Defending champions ready to defend titles
All four defending European champions will start in the forests around Mór.
Venla Harju (FIN) and Simona Aebersold (SUI) won the long and middle distance respectively in Estonia two years ago at the last European Championships with forest distances.
Here, the Swedes Martin Regborn and Albin Ridefelt grabbed the men’s gold medals in long and middle, respectively.
Norway wins men’s EOC relay in 2022. Photo: Donatas Lazauskas
In the relays, it is the Swedish women and Norwegian men who can brag about being European champions – at least for a few more days.
The terrain in central Hungary is continental with lots of climb and generally good runnability, where stony and steep slopes and green areas can slow you down.
In addition to the Hungarian terrain, the athletes can also be tested in their ability to cope with the heat, as over 30 degrees are expected in the weekend.
Follow the races
There are good opportunities to follow the championships via high-quality TV productions on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.
IOF TV offers English commentary (Katherine Bett and Jonas Merz) and German commentary (Lukas Deininger and Philipp Sauter). Access to the broadcasts can be purchased for 9 EUR for single races and 25 EUR for all.
Broadcasters in a number of countries have acquired the rights to show the races from Hungary.
SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), YLE (Finland), ORF (Austria), TV8 Montblanc (France), Sport 1 (Hungary), CzTV (Czechia), DUO 5 (Estonia)
IOF LIVE will keep you updated on start times, live results, GPS tracking and photos.
EOC 2024 Program
All times: CEST (UTC +2)
Friday, August 16
Middle Qualification
09:00 First start
Saturday, August 17
Middle Final
13:30 First start women
14:20 – 17:50 TV Broadcast
15:15 First start men
Sunday, August 18
Long distance
09:50 First start women
10:35 First start men
14:00 – 18:00 TV Broadcast
Tuesday, August 20
Relay
14:00 – 18:00 TV Broadcast
14:10 Start men
16:05 Start women
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