Switzerland won the women’s Relay and Norway the men’s Relay at the Nokian Tyres World
Orienteering Championships in Sigulda, Latvia.The women’s Relay was a battle between Switzerland and Sweden. Swiss Elena Roos was nine seconds ahead of Sweden and Helena Bergman after the first leg. Sweden's Karolin Ohlsson was eight seconds ahead of Julia Jakob in the Swiss team after the second leg.
On the last leg Judith Wyder, Switzerland and Tove Alexandersson, Sweden were close thoughout the whole leg. They ran together on the long leg to the 13th control and punched at almost the same time with 700 meters left to the finish.
Tove Alexandersson made some small mistakes and Judith Wyder was stronger in the fast and open last part. Switzerland managed to win with a 15 seconds margin to Sweden. Russia took the bronze, 2.17 minutes after the winner.
g championship takes place in Riga. And it is a great pleasure that Riga is first city where the championship race is held in the historic center of the capital, in the very heart of the old city. This beneficial both for orienteering sport and the city of Riga as it will help to promote the popularity of orienteering sport. This is a special year for us - we celebrate Latvia's 100th anniversary. When Latvian orienteering sports people first spoke about the idea of organizing a world championship in Riga ten years ago it seemed to me a completely crazy and completely impossible idea. But that's what happened! I wish all a successful championship, good luck for athletes and a fair competition!"
of Old Riga being surprised unprepared by the high-speed athletes during the competition, we have proposed the idea of attaching a small bell to athletes leg. Competitions will be very interesting and exciting. I invite fans and spectators to come to the racing arenas, where they can fully experience the atmosphere of the race, follow main events during the courses. However those who will not be able to watch the competition at the venue will be able to follow it live on TV and online. Many thanks to the Riga City Council, Sigulda and Krimulda counties, as well as to the Ministry of Education and Science for support in organizing the championship in Latvia.
rveyed all districts and competition areas and chosen the best places to let competitors and spectators see the beauty of Latvia. Sprint and sprint relays will indeed be very interesting - the distance in Old Riga will be worth it. And to make it even more difficult for athletes, we will place artificial obstacles in the distance. On the other hand, the competition area in Āgenskalns will feature a completely different environment - with parks and the architecture and street planning of a historic 19th-century worker's district. This opportunity has been a big challenge for the Latvian Orienteering Federation, we are ready for it. Technically we have solved the most complex tasks. For example, to provide live TV, the length of the optical cables put out in the forest courses in Turaida is more than 12 kilometers!"
onship. Mostly from Europe, but also from the United States, Japan, and I just saw that Hong Kong athletes have arrived!"
athletes will benefit from the fact that they know the race areas. Most of them have started their orienteering career in similar areas and are accustomed to their specifics. The feeling of home is important for everyone. And starting in your home country allows for example bring along cucumbers and tomatoes grown up in your own or parents gardens."
national flags and atheltes banners and flags with you. We will provide a dedicated place in each arena to mount fan club banners and flags during the races.
