orienteering

From Cuba to Gargano, via Miami Interview with Antonio “Tony” Barranco Hi Antonio. Can you tell us something about yourself and your background as an athlete? Like almost all Cuban children, the first thing I played was baseball. I also played volleyball, basketball and football. I played many games, running fast all over the field. In football, as in the other sports I mentioned, I played at the provincial level.

The World Champion Janne Salmi course setter at  WMOC 2022   The name of Janne Salmi is among those universally known to orienteers. Among his victories: Gold medal at WOC 1997 middle distance and Gold medal at WOC 2001 in Relay, 4 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal at WOC, 2 times winner of Jukola with Turun Suunnistajat team (1996 and 2001).

The naturalistic wonders to see in the Umbra Forest The Umbra Forest is the green lung of the Gargano National Park. Between Vieste, Monte Sant’Angelo and Vico del Gargano, this Protected Nature Reserve preserves a millenary history at about 800 meters above sea level, among beeches, turkey oaks, maples and holm oaks, and its unique identity makes it a northern European forest transplanted to the Mediterranean. Although its name recalls that of a region of Central Italy, it derives from the Latin adjective umber, to indicate its dark and shady nature. It’s full of naturalistic wonders, let’s discover them together in view of the World Masters Orienteering Championships 2022!

UNA FAMIGLIA SEMPRE IN BUSSOLA In ogni parte del mondo l’orienteering è visto come uno “sport per famiglie”: genitori orientisti che portano i figli a questo sport, figli che si appassionano e che convincono i genitori ad intraprendere una seconda carriera sportiva. Si parla sempre più spesso di orientisti di seconda, terza, addirittura quarta generazione. Tra le famiglie più famose, in Svizzera troviamo la famiglia Guglielmetti che arriverà in Puglia con ben 5 rappresentanti a gareggiare nei WMOC 2022. Abbiamo chiesto ad Elena Guglielmetti, che in Puglia gareggerà in W35, di presentarci la sua famiglia.

WMOC 2022 sustainable with Ferrovie del Gargano Bus service from Italian airports to the Vieste terminal Shuttle bus for both transport to the races and from the accommodation to the bus terminal Encourage the growth of the combination of sport and tourism while respecting the environment. This is one of the essential objectives of the Organizing Committee of the World Orienteering Masters Championships (WMOC 2022) which, among the various locations that will host the event, will have the task of protecting the Umbra Forest, a Natural Reserve in Gargano National Park recognized by the UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. 

3 things you need to know about Monte Sant’Angelo It was here that one of the first sprint maps for orienteering was perfected and already in 2004 it hosted an international event with Scandinavian and Swiss athletes. Monte Sant’Angelo will return on 9 July, together with Vico del Gargano, to welcome one of the Official WMOC trainings during the WMOC 2022, whose tickets will undergo a new price change from 16 February.

From Norway to Gargano, the Bernt Bjørnsgaard return The orienteering champ Bernt Bjørnsgaard is officially the WMOC 2022 International Ambassador.

Peschici, the beaches not to be missed Perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, Peschici dominates one of the most evocative bays in Italy. Its 20 km of coastline, from the Marina to the Sfinale bay, will enchant you with its incredible beauty. Every single beach is special in its own way thanks to unique features to be discovered. We recommend some of them where to spend your free time during WMOC2022!

“Three weeks of orienteering in Italy, a superb opportunity”.   Takashi “Tac” Sugiyama said!   From the United States to Italy, this summer 3 weeks of competitions in the Dolomites of Madonna di Campiglio in Trentino, the World Masters Orienteering Championships in Gargano and the “WMOC the week after” discovering the historic centres of Puglia. Takashi “Tac” Sugiyama tell us how he’s preparing to this great Italian adventure. 

“WMOC 2022: Foresta Umbra in Gargano is a really fantastic area, and actually I was really surprised to find that type of terrain that south.” PWT Italy: Your Italian friends are happy to hear from you again and it’s great to see you as the new head coach of the Finnish National Team. What are the main goal(s) you have set for this new challenge? TG: Of course, I have quite a strong connection with Finland due to all my elite years with Kalevan rasti, as I represented that club for 18 years (2000-2017). Right now, it just feels right to have a chance to give something back, and my motivation is pretty enormous. My coaching contract is ending in 2025 which will be a year to remember for Finnish orienteering, with the World Championships organised in Kuopio. So, for sure, it is a natural goal, and I think about it every day, but I just don´t want to wait that long before we see some progress with the Finnish team results. And as I have said from day 1, my aim is to make the Finns proud of their national team.