Discussion: Continental Masters Games: Why no Orienteering?

I have just learned that the organization controlling the World Masters Games has branched out to offer European Masters Games (Nice in October) and an Americas Masters Games (Vancouver 2016).
They also had a world winter masters games (who knew?) in Quebec last winter.
The question is: while Orienteering is on the European Masters Games program it is not on Vancouver's. Is this by Orienteering's choice or the Games committee.

Maybe since it's not good enough for the 2020 Olympics, it's not good enough for Vancouver.

I understand that the Americas Masters Games organizers required that the various sports venues be located within or very near to the city of Vancouver. For orienteering, this would have meant organizing O competitions on park maps. While that could be good fun, it was not an arrangement that was likely to attract many orienteers to the AMG, so the province and AMG decision-makers elected to focus on other, potentially more attractive sports.
I do hope that golf made the list, though ;-)

While that could be good fun, it was not an arrangement that was likely to attract many orienteers to the AMG.

How many orienteers are needed? Vancouver Sprint Camp is a world-class event and having, say, a 5-stage sprint competition around Vancouver would be a decent draw for something like this.

Barebones had a fantastic sprint a few years ago at Stanley Park. The one at UBC was really good, too.

Vancouver Sprint Camp is a world-class event and having, say, a 5-stage sprint competition around Vancouver would be a decent draw for something like this.

I agree. Sprint can be a decent draw, especially when a city has so many nice sprint maps. (A forest event can often be only a mediocre draw at such Games, due to the price they charge, and the lack of any tie in with the rest of the Games (parties, etc) that might justify such a price. I doubt that a good sprint package would be any worse, and would feel more a part of the Games.)

So,
1. Who is the event organizer? Identify contact info.
2. GVOC or OABC, get on the ball and petition the organizer.
Let's make this happen.

A 5-stage sprint competition would make me want to go!

If anyone wants a 5-stage sprint competition in almost-Vancouver and can't wait until 2016.... there'll be one in Seattle this September!

I won't Seattle for that.

That would be cool :)

Isn't part of the problem with incorporating orienteering into a regional Masters Games that competitors would have to pay an additional registration fee for the entire games even if the only sport they actually want to pay race entry fees for is orienteering? I think it was about $100 extra (maybe more by now) when last my state decided not to host orienteering for Australian masters games.

OABC was in discussion with AMG and decided not to put on the event - for many complex reasons. A few things to keep in mind when making comparisons to the Sprint Camp:
1. Sprint Camp is targeted at and draws from our top young athletes. AMG is for Masters.
2. Sprint Camp is run on a shoestring with very low entry fees. Em, not AMG ;-)
3. Sprint Camp is 9 (or so) events in 2.5 days. AMG, perhaps 3 in 10.

So a tough call, but GVOC / OABC would find it a little tough to pool together the mostly volunteer resources to put on such an event at this time

Sounds like OABC and GVOC gave it some good thought.

Thanks for the rational AZ. Has OABC and GVOC scoped out hosting high profile international Sprint Orienteering events in greater Van?

Some points to add to AZ's post:
1. AMG decided not to include Orienteering. OABC was willing to participate but some key leaders were not convinced the project was a good use of volunteer resources.
2. I believe AMG made this decision because they were not confident enough orienteers would participate.
3. OABC proposed a 3 event programme on ISSOM maps: a long at UBC, another long at Stanley Park/Coal Harbour, and a middle at Jericho. A middle on a new map at Grouse Mountain ski area was also considered.
4. The events had to be within or very close to Vancouver. (accessible by transit).
5. The entry fees were likely to be around $300 perhaps more.
6. These maps are used for training events (free) and Sprint Camp (cheap) so price resistance, especially by locals and near locals was likely.







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Another way to make an urban event "worth" $300 might be to have an urban rogaine, perhaps multi-modal...use a bike to get between forested and urban parks, in which there are controls accessible on foot, and maybe a volunteer to watch the bikes. Perhaps start with a two hour period during which kayaks or such can be used on a body of water to get to floating or island controls. I'm just tossing out general ideas as these sort of opportunities come up from time to time, and the challenge is often the same...stage it in or near the city, make it worth a high price, make it visible, while still making it interesting.

By the way, I mean no criticism of the decision...these things can be a lot of work. Just posing ideas in case any future potential host of such a Games wants ideas for hosting a city event that's worth a high entry fee and exciting.

Master Games organisers don't always understand the lead time required for orienteering.

My guess is our Vancouver friends had max 24 months from first contact? Plenty of lead time for a few games of soccer and basketball...

Also plenty of lead time for orienteering if using an existing map, though that affects the perceived value for a high entry fee. Then again, I've long noticed that maps often get more participants for their second national event than for their first. Once people hear a friend's experience that an area is good, they seem to be more inclined to come than for an unknown (new) area.