Making sure Nationals is good

Jamie Posted: 25 August 2005, 1:08 PM   Just wanting to canvas ideas on how people see nationals and what little things could make it better... My two cents. Nationals is our premier and showcase event, it should be special, heres some ways we can make sure it is special.. Technical: course planning auditting by IOF or other qualified controller from outside region...I don't think there is currently a wide understanding of the different challenges required by the different formats of orienteering. Spectator: we need to make sure there is a decent finish shute and spectator controls if possible (the latter especially in the long and sprint). Sportident: should be compulsory. Warm up map snippet adjacent to start: not hard to organise and standard practice globally (especially relevant when no model map). Reverse Start Order: done on rankings, or previous nationals results...helps to build tension as top runners finish last. 2 minute start intervals: as at World Champs...makes mistakes count more.. Anyway a few ideas any others floating around out there? Would it be appropriate for the NZOF to produce some guidelines on how to run a nationals?   DJ Posted: 25 August 2005, 2:06 PM   Technical: all the controllers and course planners should be required to pass an exam. Spectator: I think the organisers should hire a crowd.   Greg Posted: 25 August 2005, 2:18 PM   Commentry and music, if you don't like it sit in your car, you probably do now anyway   Brenda Boghopper Posted: 26 August 2005, 12:32 PM   With the nationals in the least experienced part of the country, major-event-organising-wise, we should be happy if they just run solid events. Being fresh to the tasks, they might even read the rules and start the elites at at least 6min on the long distance, and allocate the start times randomly...   mick finn Posted: 30 August 2005, 4:43 AM   On a related note - the Rogaining Nationals (HVO, Tararuas, Feb 06) should have commentary and music, at least for the finish and winddown time (and we'll be screening the first series of 24 starring Kiefer Sutherland at the same time as the race). Other innovations are being researched, to work with the electronic control system. Totally agree that Nats (orienteering) are the showcase event and the more spectator and competitor interest the better! Have seen high levels of enthusiasm in the past from clubs about providing commentary, and on occasions this has been incorporated into the finish chute and spectator area design too (remember carnage hill). As the technology advances with electronic controls and software there should be more and more opps to make orienteering interesting, even without micr-o type events. Eg Sports like mountain running or multisport provide a day of entertainment even with runners disappearing up the hill/underwater etc for 20-30-mins at a time, by clever timetabling and lots of interviews...not a problem for orienteering to do so too and to have electronic updates. Another example -at Karapoti Classic the commentators get a list of riders onscreen as they (their chip) passes over a mat at start of chute - the list has name, agegroup, where from, occupation and reason for riding - more than enough to commentate on as they ride up the chute! Problem is that large multisport events usually pay commentators well for a days work, as there are not so many about- which leaves little incentive for orienteering commentators to volunteer for 3 or 4 days work and not run (or not in a focused fashion). A big incentive is to have organisers that are really keen and willing to focus on spectator interest and entertainment - the 'x' factor that may entice people back - as the reward for commentators is then to assist in providing a great event.   Chris Forne Posted: 30 August 2005, 9:02 AM   Lets have a 400m finish shute in full view arcing around the finish area. Good for a bit of excitment especially if it's a close race.   James Posted: 30 August 2005, 10:26 PM   I agree with chris, this would totally add to the excitement factor, and on the off chance there is a commentator, would give them enough chance to recognise runners and make their job way easier   onemanfanclub Posted: 31 August 2005, 6:50 AM   Hmmm, that sounds slightly familiar, Chris. Does this 400m finish chute happen to start with an absolute killer climb, with hordes of Japanese spectators lined up along the worst bit of it???   Chris Forne Posted: 31 August 2005, 7:11 AM   The finish shute for the qualifications was not nearly 400m, so a bit longer than that.   thomasr Posted: 2 September 2005, 2:13 AM   maybe trying to run sprint o in busy public places would be a good thing to do. It may be difficult as far as permisssion is concerned but then at least people will stop and wonder what the hell is going on, hopefully evoke some curiosity. I agree that having some sort of atmosphere of competition at the event village is a good idea. At mountain biking there always is, and on each lap the riders disappear for up to 20mins at a time yet crowd intrest is maintained. Spectator controls should be an important part of any course at an a level event.