The Orienteering World Cup on the Annecy 2018 playground

10/8/2010

This weekend, Annecy and its surrounding mountains will set the scene for a leg of this year’s Orienteering World Cup. Throughout three days’ training and two days of competition, competitors will enjoy the exceptional natural beauty of the lake and mountains. The competition falls in line with Annecy’s desire to host major sporting events.

The Orienteering World Cup in Annecy will bring together some 200 competitors from around thirty nations at an exceptional setting where the best athletes from the sport will compete for victory. Preserving the field's natural environment is central to the organisers' concerns, and enables Annecy and the surrounding region to build ambitious sports policy.

“This popular sporting event demonstrates that Annecy is a magnificent natural setting for all sports the whole year round,” explains Edgar Grospiron, CEO of the Annecy 2018 Olympic bid and Olympic mogul champion. “We are delighted to be hosting a world cup leg once again in Annecy."

Orienteering is a race against the clock for individuals or teams across varied terrain, in both natural and urban environments. It requires endurance, speed, strategy, quick decision-making and respect for nature.

The Annecy leg of the race will give athletes the chance to discover the terrain ahead of the Orienteering World Cup hosted in Savoie Mont Blanc on 10th-20th Aug 2011. With more than 300,000 occasional runners, and a federation boasting a membership of some 7,000, the sport is growing in popularity in France. It is suitable for both able and disabled runners. Highly popular in Annecy with 150 club members, the sport is seeking leave a lasting mark on our region, by raising awareness among school groups, providing a venue for future competitions and training sessions, developing venues and opening up to a variety of audiences. It is a natural sport respectful of the environment, which has found its place on the Annecy 2018 playground.

For more information, please email alexandra.carraz@annecy-2018.fr

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