Orienteering - orienteering

Japanese: オリエンテーリング - おりえんてーりんぐ（英語表記）orienteering

It is a sport in which participants must find and travel around several points marked on a map in the shortest possible time. In German, it is called Orientierungslauf (abbreviated as OL), a compound word of Orientieren, meaning to determine a direction, and Lauf, meaning to run. It requires the ability to detect directions in unknown areas, physical strength, and precise action. It is a sport that allows participants to experience beautiful nature while reading a map and satisfy their sense of adventure. There are many formats and types, and participants can participate in classes that suit their abilities, so it has become a popular sport with a wide range of users.

[Tokuhisa Kyuuou]

history

OL is closely related to the traditions of Scandinavian hunters who roamed the mountains and the development of maps. There is a record of an infantry messenger race on unknown terrain held near Stockholm in 1893, but OL as a sport began in 1919 with an OL tournament proposed by Ernst Killander of Sweden. The Swedish Orienteering Federation was then established in 1938, and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) in 1961. The first World Championship was held in 1966, and since then, with one exception (held two years in a row in 1978 and 1979), the tournament has been held every other year. In Japan, it began with a walking rally held on Mount Takao in Tokyo in 1966 (Showa 41). In 1969, the Japan Orienteering Committee was established and joined the IOF. Since 1970, permanent courses (OL permanent courses) have been set up one after another, OL tournaments have been held in various places, and the number of clubs and societies has increased. In 1991, the Japan Orienteering Committee was dissolved and the Japan Orienteering Association (JOA) was established, and in 2005 the World Orienteering Championships were held in Aichi Prefecture.

[Tokuhisa Kyuuou]

Classification

If we classify OL from several perspectives, we get the following:

[Tokuhisa Kyuuou]

Classification by format

(1) Point OL: This is the most common type. The winner is the person who passes through all the designated posts (checkpoints, also called controls) in a set order in the shortest time.

(2) Score OL: In this game, players must visit as many posts as possible within a certain time frame. Unlike Point OL, there is no set order, but each post is assigned a different score, and players compete for points.

(3) Line OL: The course to be followed is shown by a line, and participants must find posts on the line that are not shown on the diagram. Their ranking is determined by the time it takes them to find them.

(4) Burn OL: The course is designated and the participants are guided to the post. The position of the post is marked by a dot on the map, and the accuracy of this is competed.

[Tokuhisa Kyuuou]

Classification by walking style

Japan was the first to introduce group walking into what was originally an individual running sport, and although walking OL has the advantage of allowing many people to participate, originally it was centered around running and walking OL.

[Tokuhisa Kyuuou]

Competition time classification

Daytime work is the norm, but there is also the option of working at night as a "night office lady."

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Classification by equipment used

There are ski OLs, snow OLs, cycle OLs, canoe OLs, horse OLs, etc.

In addition, there are events with a strong competitive element, events with a strong game element, and events for individuals and teams.

[Tokuhisa Kyuuou]

Required skills

OL is a broad sport, but the abilities required for this sport can be divided into the following three categories. The first is the physical element, which requires the ability to walk and run. The second is the psychological element, which requires the calmness and overall strength to make decisions and act alone in nature. The third is the technical element, which requires skills such as map reading, measuring distance by stride length, and using a compass. Also, because it is played in nature, the ability to respond to changes in the weather and take measures against danger can also be considered technical elements.

The Öringen competition, held every summer in Sweden, has more than 10,000 participants. People of all ages and genders, and not just strong runners but families too, can participate. What makes this sport unique is that it is an activity that is based on a love of nature.

[Tokuhisa Kyuuou]

Walk Rally

It is an outdoor sport similar to orienteering, and tests everyday knowledge and culture. It can be considered a type of walking office lady, and was first held in Shizuoka City in 1980. Based on a course map, 3 to 6 people walk in groups, and about 10 checkpoints and 3 to 4 observation zones are set. At the checkpoints, various tasks are given, such as "Please collect two of the seven spring herbs." After finishing, a question about the observation zone is given and the group discusses and answers it. The walking distance is 5 to 6 kilometers, but there is a standard time that is not announced, and the ranking is determined by the sum of the points for answering the question and the points for the finishing time closest to the standard time. It incorporates more game-like elements than walking office ladies, so many recreational orienteering activities incorporate this element. The first nationwide walking rally was held in 1984.

[Tokuhisa Kyuuou]

"Orienteering" by Akira Konno (1979, Kodansha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

地図上に示されたいくつかの地点をできるだけ短時間に探し当てて回る競技。ドイツ語ではOrientierungslauf（略してOL）といい、方向を定めるという意味のOrientierenと走るという意味のLaufの合成語である。未知の地域で方向を探知する能力と体力、的確な行動が必要とされる。地図を読みながら美しい自然に触れ、冒険心を満足させることのできるスポーツで、形式や種類も多く、自己の能力にあったクラスで参加することができるので幅広く大衆的なスポーツとなった。

［徳久球雄］

歴史

OLは、山野を跋渉(ばっしょう)する北欧の狩猟民族の伝統と地図の発達に深い関係があり、1893年ストックホルム近郊で未知の地形での歩兵の伝令競技が行われた記録があるが、スポーツとしてのOLは1919年スウェーデンのエルンスト・シランデルErnst Killanderの提唱によって開かれたOL大会に始まる。その後、1938年にスウェーデンオリエンテーリング連盟、61年に国際オリエンテーリング連盟（IOF）が設立され、1966年には第1回世界選手権大会が開かれて、以来、一度の例外（78、79年は2年連続開催）を除いて1年おきに大会が開かれている。日本では1966年（昭和41）東京の高尾山で徒歩ラリーが開かれたのが始まりで、69年に日本オリエンテーリング委員会が設立されIOFに加盟、70年以後パーマネントコース（OL常設コース）が次々と設定され、各地でOL大会が開かれ、クラブや同好会も増加している。1991年（平成3）には日本オリエンテーリング委員会を発展的に解消して社団法人日本オリエンテーリング協会（JOA）が設立され、2005年には愛知県で世界オリエンテーリング選手権大会が開催された。

［徳久球雄］

必要な能力

OLは幅広いスポーツだが、この競技に必要な能力を考えると次の三つに分類できる。第一は体力的要素で、歩く力、走る力が要求される。第二には心理的要素で、1人で自然の中で判断しながら行動する冷静さ、総合力が必要である。第三には技術的要素で、地図の読図、歩幅による距離測定やコンパスの使用などの技術が要求される。また自然の中で行動するので、天候の変化に対応する行動、危険に対する対策なども技術的な要素といえよう。

　スウェーデンで毎夏開催されるオーリンゲン大会には1万人以上の参加者があり、老若男女を問わず、また走力の優れた人だけでなく家族でも参加でき、自然を愛しながら行動するところにこのスポーツの特徴があるといえよう。

［徳久球雄］

ウォークラリー

オリエンテーリングに似た野外スポーツで、日ごろの知識や教養も試される。徒歩OLの一種ともいえ、1980年（昭和55）に静岡市で初めて行われた。コース図を基に、3～6人が一組で歩くもので、10か所程度のチェックポイントと3～4か所程度の観察ゾーンが設定される。チェックポイントでは「春の七草のうち、2種類を採取してください」といったさまざまな課題が与えられる。ゴールインのあとには、観察ゾーン内のことについての問題が渡され、グループで相談して解答する。徒歩距離は5～6キロメートルだが、基準タイムが設定されていて、これは発表されず、問題の解答による得点と基準タイムに近いゴール時間による得点の合計で順位が決定される。徒歩OLよりもゲーム的要素が取り入れられているので、レクリエーションとしてのオリエンテーリングのなかにもこの要素が取り入れられて行われるものも多い。84年に第1回全国一斉ウォークラリー大会が行われた。

［徳久球雄］

『紺野晃著『オリエンテーリング』（1979・講談社）』

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