Over the last week the spread of coronavirus around the world has led to the cancellation or postponement of many sporting events. The International Orienteering Federation has just released a statement on the current and possible future impact on orienteering events. The full IOF statement is here (https://orienteering.sport/coronavirus-covid-19-update-from-the-iof/). With regard to the major international events for which ONZ selection trials are scheduled over the next few weeks the salient points are as follows.
- World Cup Round 1 – Switzerland has a restriction on events with more than 1000 people attending and are expected to revise this shortly. IOF will discuss the future of WC Round 1 at a meeting on 24 March
- JWOC – Turkey has announced the postponement or cancellation of all international events up to 1 May 2020. There is at this point no effect on JWOC other than that the Official Training Camp from 13-17 April has been postponed
- WOC – Denmark has closed all sports events until 25 March. The WOC organisers are working on contingency plans in case WOC cannot proceed as planned. The training camp from 23-26 March has been cancelled
- WUOC – the International University Sports Federation is monitoring the situation but has cancelled the WU Ski O Championships which were due to be held in Finland in late March
ONZ will continue to monitor the developing situation and will keep members informed through further updates.
