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Future WOC Proposal

Casser Posted: 16 March 2011, 2:21 PM   The WOC changes has been discussed in another thread here on maptalk - but now there is an actual proposal available - in short: The WOC program is to be extended Day Block Event Alternative 1 SPRINT Sprint individual (qualification+final) or Sprint relay 2 SPRINT Sprint relay (mixed teams) or Sprint individual 3 Rest day 4 MIDDLE Middle individual 5 MIDDLE Prologue + Chasing start 6 Rest day 7 TRADITIONAL Long individual or Relay 8 TRADITIONAL Relay or Long individual The qualifications (except the sprint) has been skipped - each Nation has 3 spots in the sprint qual and Middle prologue / chasing start - each Nation has 1 spot (maybe not in the long) in the other individual races and up to 3 (based on the strength of the Nation - further to this see below). The sprint mixed relay is 2 women 2 men - always to be held in urban terrain - not forest. Middle individual final It is proposed that each federation can enter 1 man and 1 woman to the final. Additional starting slots are based on the nation s strength (see above). The number of nations receiving additional slots needs to be balanced by the size of the start field which should not exceed 75 starters. Long individual final In the Long final, it will not be possible to award one starting slot to each nation. It is proposed that a nation needs to have at least one athlete meeting a quality demand (defined by World Ranking points)to earn a start place for the nation. Additional starting slots are based on the nation s strength (see above). The number of nations receiving additional slots needs to be balanced by the size of the start field which should not grow significantly larger than in the current model. What do you think - what implications will it have for New Zealand? This message was edited by Casser on 16 March 2011, 10:28 PM   aaronprin Posted: 17 March 2011, 12:28 PM   I don't have any opinion about the proposed WOC program, I think it looks good. When it comes to qualification I think the WRL should be used. I can't see how past WOC result can be relevant when it is required to qualify to get to WOC in the first place?? There should certainly be at least one man one woman per country in all the events, including the long. Why not have 75 runners in the long distance? it means a long start group but the lowest ranked starters can start early, in order to keep up spectator interest. It needs to be kept in mind that this is the world championship, not the european championship. If I was to fly all the way to Europe from New Zealand to compete at WOC I would want to run several distances. By allocating a different number of starts to the long distance means NZ might get 0 or 1 start places. This means fewer starts for a NZ team, thus fewer athletes will be interested in travelling to WOC and less chance of making up a full relay team.   Michael Posted: 17 March 2011, 1:16 PM   From a watcher's point of view the sprint relay sounds exciting. And the chase-start middle with three runners per country, full body cover will take on a complete new meaning... Nice to see the word "traditional" being used, can't be too long before we're allowed to call it "classic" again.   Alistair Posted: 17 March 2011, 1:39 PM   A very important fundamental point that NZ (and Australia - someone should write to Mike Dowling who's on the committee - Carsten?) should push for is having the long race on the last day. To put the long anywhere earlier in the week discriminates against small teams like us who may only have 3 men/women.   robbie Posted: 17 March 2011, 2:27 PM   So this becomes a continental championship! If qualification is by the World ranking points then that would cut out New Zealand because of the cost factor. With this system we would have three in the sprint. One in the middle and probably none in the long. The IOF has changed the system so many times it leaves the sport without a stable foundation.We dont appear to have a voice on the IOF.   onemanfanclub Posted: 17 March 2011, 11:54 PM   I assume this has followed some discussion identifying all the flaws with the current system? In which case could someone please tell me what they are? If it ain't broke....   Alistair Posted: 18 March 2011, 12:40 AM   Doesn't matter what the system is, someone will always find a fault, and thus someone will always try and fix it...   X Posted: 18 March 2011, 5:15 AM   Looks like WOC's going to change for better or worse. At least they have added SOME excitement with the Middle chasing start and proloque so all is not lost. What I find odd is that they have the gall to label the Long event as 'Traditional' but in reality to most small nations it has now been religated to 'untouchable', unless they either allow a minimum of one runner per country in the Long, or help pay travel for runners of small far away nations to attend Long WRE's, or have more Long WRE's in the small far away nations to give them a chance. It's a bit similar with the Middle Champs, It would be hard to imagine we would ever get more than one qualifier, but maybe this is a realistic reflection on our level and so everyone gets to compete in the alternative Chase start event. Does that mean nations such as ourselves should now only focus on being sprint, middle/chasing and relay specialists and forget the Traditional Long forever?   Casser Posted: 19 March 2011, 12:44 AM   Here is a link to the World of O discussion: http://news.worldofo.com/2011/03/16/woc-proposal-ready-chasing-start-and-sprint-relay/ Which includes an answer from the IOF dude on the issue regarding the opportunity to race in the Long Distance Final - and it could be that more Federations will be represented in the final - but will it be the right ones (what will be the criteria?)   Casser Posted: 3 April 2011, 7:37 AM   It is soon time to send in the nzof response to the WOC proposal. So here is the last chance to comment on it for now. Main things seem to be the decreased chance of racing on the classic orienteering formats like middle and long. The new disciplines doesn't make up for that or? What do you think? Some has suggested to have a Sprint WOC every second year - with the Sprint and the new disciplines Mixed Sprint relay and Prolog/Chasing start Middle. And then have the old disciplines middle, long and relay every second as well - do you support that? Do you have any other suggestions - views?   Chris Forne Posted: 4 April 2011, 12:28 PM   I really like the idea of having a sprint WOC every second year and the existing WOC minus sprint every other year. This would add more prestige to all events, since they are only contested every second year, while still enabling athletes to apply for funding and attend a world champs each year if they wish. Pros: Help expand the sport, by introducing new and exciting disciplines at the world champs ( I am a big supporter of the two person mixed sprint relay after competing in ski-woc this year, and believe the mass start/ chasing start could also offer good potential) Allows competitors to run all races (if they wish) close or at their maximum potential - thereby ensuring top-level competition at all races. Make it easier for new/smaller countries to host the world champs, in particular the sprint WOC - thereby helping build the global profile and participation of the sport Retain the existing formats, building on tradition, and and hopefully improving the profile of these events too. Enable athletes to focus more thoroughly on a particular discipline each year, or possibly in general, improving the options for event specialisation. Improve the profile of all events at WOC, by reducing the number held each year and only contesting a given event every second year. Retain the opportunities for athletes for apply for funding each year and ensure there is a top-level truly international set of competitions each year.   mick finn Posted: 6 April 2011, 8:44 AM   Good points Chris! That option looks good. And what about having 6 from each country for the sprint and then having heats plus semi-finals?   Casser Posted: 25 May 2011, 5:17 AM   Now the counsil has had a meeting about the answers from this discussion and have dismissed the working group. Read all about it - here on this link http://orienteering.org/foot-orienteering/woc-in-the-future/ The main things are: no more qualification races, 5 madals to race for and it is still going to be each year... and maybe a couple of more things   Michael Posted: 25 May 2011, 5:27 AM   I wonder which of the 6 will be dropped? Presumably one of the new ones, sprint relay or middle chase. Casser what (in summary) was NZ's submission?   Casser Posted: 25 May 2011, 9:57 AM   NZOF submission in headlines Consider the sprint WOC every second year and traditional WOC every second year - as a opportunity for smaller countries to host a WOC (Sprint) and to fast track new nations into attending WOC (Sprint) Reservations on the removal of quaification races - and a discussion of other methods of qualification and how it will influence chances for qualification from a nz point of view. Long distance on the last day of competition Support to the chasing start compared the mass start alternative   Paul I Posted: 28 May 2011, 1:46 AM   Amazed that after all that effort they are dropping one. I'm hoping they keep the chasing middle + prologue, more athletes get to run traditional type O-ing, and it would surely be exciting. But it wouldn't surprise me if the sprint relay got the nod after success at the world games based on tv coverage. Me still hugely dissapointed at losing the Long qual races. The long was always what woc was all about for decades, soon it's only going to be for the very top tier.