Orienteering
The busiest street in central Jyväskylä, Finland, turned into start and finish arena for the Park World Tour that Friday, 13.6.1997. You could place your bets and spend 1.5 hours watching the world’s best orienteers – on TV, too – in a race that soon turned challenging.
How high did the runners climb before reaching control 2? Get your copy of Made for loving it and go with them.
Janne Salmi and the Park World Tour got an inspiring pacemaker in Eskilstuna, Sweden, 2.5.1997. The season opening among wild animals and carousels, accompanied by a rock band, brought the Tour a new attendance record.
Which colour were the tiger mascots of Parken Zoo? Meet them and much more in Made for loving it.
Having rolled down from Sweden with a busful of top orienteers, journalists and organisers, driver Ingemar Carlund was thanked by Park World Tour champions Jörgen Mårtensson and Reeta Kolkkala after the final in Prague, Czech Republic, 29.10.1996. Crew members Erik Unaas, Gåvert Wååg and Hans Mårtensson joined in.
Where did the double-decker bus stop for promotion races? Read it all in Made for loving it.
In Oslo, 31.7.1996, the Park World Tour racers got to share the arena with 15,000 young soccer players, taking part in the Norway Cup. Ragnhild Myrvold and the orienteers got a share of their cheers.
Which terrain dominated the course? Check it out in the anniversary book Made for loving it.
Diving into the river Laxån was the fastest route to the second last control at Park World Tour race number two in Sweden 20.7.1996. Marie-Luce Romanens stayed calm, in front of thousands of eyes.
Also Carsten Jørgensen was not able to finish with dry feet.
What made so many people watch the PWT race in Laxå? Look up the answer in Made for loving it.
Outside the spa hotel where all the runners stayed, the Park World Tour started in Vaasa, Finland, 13.6.1996, live on TV. Carsten Jørgensen, Rudolf Ropek and Jörgen Mårtensson finished on the podium, with sauna and banquet dinner waiting.
What was the map scale at the premiere event? Find it – and 120+ more maps in Made for loving it.
In early 1996, the new series got its name and logo, created by Peter Björknäs, and the endorsement of the International Orienteering Federation. On 15.2.1996, the Park World Tour association was approved by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office.
Who thought the logo was a red-haired woman? Get your copy of Made for loving it and find it out.
Heard of the Park World Cup?
Find out much more in the anniversary book Made for loving it.
PWT wishes all the orienteers all around the world happy holidays and a prosperous new year 2021! Hope to see you in events and races.
2020 has been a year with unprecedented challenges also regarding organizing orienteering events. While there are not so many O-stories to tell from 2020, we have numerous to share from the history of the PWT.
Starting from the first year 1996, until to date, the PWT book ‘Made for Loving it‘ presents the history of the PWT; maps and results from all the 118 events, stories, insights from the development of park and sprint orienteering, and much more. Get yours here and experience the magic.