Editing Orienteering (section)

==The Olympics==
Efforts begun in 1996 to promote the inclusion of orienteering in the [[Olympic Games]] have so far been unsuccessful, although orienteering became a sport in the [[World Games]] in 2001, and is a sport in the Summer [[Deaflympics]].  Supporters recognize that the sport is neither television- nor spectator-friendly, the venue of competition is often necessarily remote from major cities, and the duration of the event is longer than most other individual competitions.<ref name="Brady">{{cite web|last=Brady|first=Gerry|title=The Olympics, Orienteering and Ireland|publisher=The Irish Orienteer|year=2008|edition=94|url=http://orienteering.ie/tio/94/OLYMPICS.htm|access-date=2008-08-16}}</ref>  Efforts to develop a format suitable for Olympic competitions have focused on park orienteering, micro-orienteering, and short-distance relays. Sprint Orienteering on foot as a format of the sport is most likely to be included in Olympic Games, as this discipline is becoming more and more popular worldwide and can have a significant spectator interest. According to the website of a Chicago Orienteering club, "the International Orienteering Federation is committed to entering the Olympic World."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicago-orienteering.org/newsletter/article0303f.htm|title=Current Status of Orienteering in the Olympics|publisher=Chicago Area Orienteering Club|access-date=2008-09-28}}</ref>

Although not an official [[demonstration sport]], an international [[ski-orienteering]] event was held in [[Sugadaira Kōgen]], [[Japan]], as part of the International Cultural Festival held in conjunction with the [[1998 Winter Olympics|XVIII Winter Olympic Games]] in [[Nagano, Nagano|Nagano]] in 1998.<ref name="IOF_Council">{{cite web|url=http://www.orienteering.org/press/ccil0197.htm |title=Extensive discussion on the Olympic item |publisher=International Orienteering Federation |access-date=2008-09-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201155503/http://www.orienteering.org/press/ccil0197.htm |archive-date=December 1, 2006 }}</ref>  The International Orienteering Federation petitioned the International Olympic Committee in 2002 to include ski orienteering in the [[2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Winter Olympic Games]], noting that it could share the venue with the [[biathlon]] competitions.<ref name="Rönnberg_1">{{cite web|url=http://www.orienteering.org/ozine0203.htm |title=Ski Orienteering's Olympic Bid |last=Rönnberg |first=Barbro |date=March 2002 |work=O-zine |publisher=International Orienteering Federation |access-date=2008-09-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209145610/http://www.orienteering.org/ozine0203.htm |archive-date=December 9, 2006 }}</ref> In its formal recommendation that ski orienteering not be included in those games, the Olympic Programme Commission focused on a lack of participation in the sport outside [[Nordic countries]], "the challenges for broadcasters and spectators to easily follow the competition", and the costs associated with new technology and a new results system.<ref name="olympic_programme_commission">{{cite web|url=http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_520.pdf|title=Review of the Olympic Programme and the Recommendations on the Programme of the XX Olympic Winter Games, Turin 2006|last=Cararro|first=Franco|year=2002|publisher=Olympic Programme Commission|access-date=2008-09-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050513184657/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_520.pdf|archivedate=2005-05-13}}</ref> In 2005, the [[International Olympic Committee]] confirmed that ski orienteering was under consideration for inclusion in the review process of the Olympic sport program for the [[2014 Winter Olympics|2014 Winter Olympic Games]].<ref name="Rönnberg_2">{{cite web|url=http://www.orienteering.org/ozine0512.pdf |title=Green light for continued Olympic campaign |last=Barbrod |first=Rönnberg |date=December 2005 |work=O-Zine |publisher=International Orienteering Federation |access-date=2008-09-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209144914/http://www.orienteering.org/ozine0512.pdf |archive-date=December 9, 2006 }}</ref>  On 28 November 2006, the Executive Board of the [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]] decided not to include any new sports in this review process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=1972|title=Olympic programme updates|publisher=International Olympic Federation|access-date=2008-09-28}}</ref>