Orienteering
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.
We are happy to inform that the PWT book is hot off the printing house. The deliveries have also started, meaning the first books have already been shipped to those who were the first to order it.
We are sorry for the slight delay caused by the pandemic and we thank you for your patience.
If you have not done so yet, you can order the book here.
25 years ago …
Towards a TV sport
In December 1995, the Finnish broadcasting company Yle started the preparations in Vaskiluoto, Vaasa, with the live-broadcasted Park World Tour premiere 13/6/1996 in sight. Journalist and commentator Leif Lampenius (pictured on the right of TV director Raimo Piltz, on the site two weeks before the event), recalls the first steps of an important evolution:
Long since, it was a major privilege to play a tiny role in the early years of the PWT. I do really think about all that, now and then, and it still feels valuable for me.
I remember how interesting and inspiring it was to work with all the broadcasting productions of a new type. We felt we joined something that certainly was going to be important in the evolution of the sport of orienteering.
It felt like a kind of trend setting. And I think it really was. Especially I remember the early stages in Vaskiluoto in Vaasa, in the fortress island of Suomenlinna in front of Helsinki, and the one in the city centre of Jyväskylä with its ridge. And I recollect them with warmth.
At that time people in general did not necessarily believe in orienteering as a TV sport. But changes of that viewpoint started. And, as we know, during the following decades much more has happened. And that has been a very enjoyable progress. Orienteering is today an exciting TV sport. A happy story.
Leif Lampenius, TV journalist and commentator Borgå, Finland
Find the stories behind the 25 Park World Tour years in the book “Made for loving it”. Order it here.
Dear all,
We wish to inform you that due to the COVID situation and the current restrictions in Czech Republic, where the book is being printed, the book publication event will be postponed. The restrictions in Czech will also cause a small delay to the shipping of the books. We will be able to ship your books at the beginning of December.
We are sorry for any inconvenience that this will cause to you, and we trust in your understanding.
ps. The books will be shipped on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning those who have ordered the book earlier will be the first to get it.
We’re keeping a positive attitude and working hard for our beloved sport and its memories.
#strongertogether
Unfortunately, it came to this. The Covid-19 situation in Czech has worsened to a point, where the best solution was to cancel the events. See official announcement in Euromeeting web site.
We are hoping to be able to organise the 25 years Celebration & Race next year!
This also means that the PWT book publication event will change form. More info about this will come later. (Shipping schedule stays the same – starts in November).