Nopesport

There is just a month to go until the World Games in Duisburg in Germany and the line up of 80 competitors from 18 countries looks strong. Sweden & France both looking to be sending near full strengh teams, while Australia have been given 2 extra entries, benefiting from Norway's pre-selected runners Hanne Staff & Bjørnar Valstad not competing. The event consists of a middle distance race on the 16th of July and a mixed relay of 2 men & 2 women the following day. With 1 minute start intervals for the middle while the relay, with estimated 22 minute leg times, takes place using a sprint standard map it should make for an exciting weekend of racing.

The men's race over 6.6km will be best suited to middle distance World Champion Thierry Gueorgiou of France but a number of other top names will be battling it out for the title. Johan Näsman & Emil Wingstedt of Sweden will certainly pose a threat as will Russia's Sergey Detkov, Ukraine's Yuri Omeltchenko and Swiss youngsters Daniel Hubmann & Matthias Merz - both of whom showing good form at the recent World Military Championships. Competing for Britain will be Matt Crane & Nick Barrable while Australian Grant Bluett will be out to defend his title from the 2001 World Games.

In the women's race Emma Engstrand will be looking to repeat her victory from the World Cup middle distance race in Germany last year but faces stiff competition as ever from her Swedish compatriots Jenny Johansson & Karolina Höjsgaard. Further competition over the 5.6km course will most likely come from Swiss superstar Simone Niggli-Luder, Dana Brozkova of the Czech Republic and Anne Margrethe Hausken of Norway, not to mention the British trio of Heather Monro, Sarah Rollins & Helen Winskill.

The relay looks like it could well prove to be one of the most exciting races of the year with any number of teams looking like they could have a strong chance of winning, the mixed sex format making it especially interesting. Sweden look especially strong as do Switzerland but Britain are certainly in with a shout, as could be a strong Lithuanian team. Norway, the previous winners, shouldn't be discounted either.

World Games 2005

2005 sees the 7th World Games held in Duisburg, Germany. Orienteering is one of the 32 official sports included in the programme of these games after making its debut in the previous World Games, held in Japan in 2001. Winners then were Grant Bluett of Australia and Hanne Staff of Norway, while Norway also won the mixed relay. Jamie Stevenson was 3rd, Jenny James was 8th while the relay team including Stephen Palmer and Heather Monro took 6th place.

The aim of the World Games is to try and give media exposure and spectator interest to sports which aren't included in the Olympics as well as offering a cultural experience to both competitors and spectators alike. Some of the other sports on display are Frisbee, Korfball, Sumo Wrestling, 10 Pin Bowling, Inline Skating and Lifesaving!