A note from OUSA President Tori Campbell
Following up on my last note about Orientación México, the International Orienteering Federation’s new 2026-2030 Strategic Directions mark an exciting shift: a renewed push to bring orienteering to the Olympic Games.
While that might sound like a long shot, the landscape is changing fast. Better TV coverage, improved drone technology, and a growing international competitive field (especially outside Europe) make our sport more broadcast-friendly and globally viable than ever. Sprint Orienteering is a prime candidate for the Summer Games, while Ski-O continues to gain traction for the Winter Games.
How does this impact Orienteering USA?
To support global growth, the IOF relies on major events hosted outside Europe. We’re already doing our part. Over the next 13 months, clubs in the USA will host three key international competitions:
- North American Orienteering Championships (Dec 27, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027) – TSN
- World Military Summer Games (June 26–28, 2027) – COK
- World Trail Orienteering Championships (Nov 9–14, 2027) – LAOC
Get Involved & Share Your Thoughts
To pull off a successful International Championship – and convince other orienteers and federations to overcome the high hurdle of overseas travel costs – we need our US community to step up as volunteers, public event participants, and spectators. That’s already happening…and, we’re considering planning an evening OUSA Convention alongside WTOC to make it a premier destination event. Take our 5-minute survey to share your interest and help shape the WTOC experience!
Join an IOF Commission
We are also looking for US representation on international committees. The IOF is accepting nominations for all discipline and support commissions, including Foot-O, MTB-O, Ski-O, Trail-O, Environment & Sustainability, Global Development, Rules, IT, Mapping, Disciplinary, and Medical.
If you are interested in applying your skills at the global level, check out the commission descriptions and reach out to president@nullorienteeringusa.org by October 12.