Cheating in WMOC David May February 2018 HLES - Riga

Preamble A well-known top European runner thought it was OK to ask runners where their control flag was. Is there a cultural difference involved? February 2018 HLES - Riga

Extracts from IOF Competition Rules 26.1 All persons taking part in an orienteering event shall behave with fairness and honesty. They shall have a sporting attitude and a spirit of friendship. The competitors shall be as quiet as possible in the terrain. 26.2 Except in the case of an accident, seeking to obtain or obtaining assistance from other runners or providing assistance to other competitors during a competition is forbidden. 26.4 All officials shall maintain strict secrecy about the competition area and terrain before they are published. Strict secrecy about the courses must be maintained. 26.5 Any attempt to survey or train in the competition terrain is forbidden, unless explicitly permitted by the organiser. February 2018 HLES - Riga

Is it a problem? Probably not for 98% of competitors But 2% can spoil the competition for the rest February 2018 HLES - Riga

Evidence Reports from competitors of others Seeking help in the forest Snatching maps from competitors in the forest Working together in groups to find controls Competitors seen inspecting (Sprint) terrain whilst it is closed Competitors photographed crossing impassable barriers February 2018 HLES - Riga

February 2018 HLES - Riga

February 2018 HLES - Riga

February 2018 HLES - Riga

Solutions? Race numbers on front and back for Sprint Marshals in terrain for Sprint Should they intervene to stop transgressions? Warnings in final Bulletin February 2018 HLES - Riga

Sprint Traps David May February 2018 HLES - Riga

ISSOM Multilevel structures such as bridges, canopies, underpasses or underground buildings are common in urban areas. The cartographic representation of more than one level is in general impossible. Hence only the main ‘running’ level should be represented on the map. February 2018 HLES - Riga

From WMOC 2017 Bulletin 2 WMOC Sprint Final 2017 – Auckland “The (road), which will be open to traffic, is marked as out of bounds on the map, with purple hatching and crossing this road at street level is strictly forbidden. All courses have a compulsory tunnel crossing beneath this road. The tunnel is mapped as a marked route on both the map and control descriptions (See right).” Compulsory crossing The terrain was embargoed on the morning of the Sprint Final only Did the organisers cover themselves by putting the above in the Bulletin? February 2018 HLES - Riga

Multilevels A B Looking from B towards A Winsplits shows 47 of the 80 M70A Finalists lost significant time from 12 to 13. Why? IOF Clinic: “it is clear that it was not fair to ask competitors to navigate through the tunnel. One solution would have been to extend the taped route beyond the tunnel, finishing at a control outside where competitors could re-commence navigating” February 2018 HLES - Riga

Back to ISSOM The cartographic representation of more than one level is in general impossible. Hence only the main ‘running’ level should be represented on the map. February 2018 HLES - Riga