World Orienteering Championships Heading to Edinburgh

Edinburgh will host the 40^th World Orienteering Championships (WOC) this summer, from July 12^th to 16^th. The champs mark the fourth time the global event has been held in Scotland, and the first in Scotland’s capital.

Despite orienteering’s reputation as a “countryside sport”, the Edinburgh championships will incorporate the city’s iconic urban landscape. Competitors in the sprint and relay events will race through the narrow wynds and closes of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Town.

At the 2022 WOC, held in the Triangle Region of Denmark, Team GB placed second in the medal table after Sweden. However, this year’s athletes are hopeful they can push Britain to the top while competing on home soil. One to look out for is Megan Carter-Davies from Aberystwyth, Wales, the reigning Sprint World Champion seeking to defend her title.

All race routes will be fully accessible via public transport, with plenty of opportunities to spectate along courses and at finish lines. As part of the WOC’s commitment to welcoming people to the sport, the WOC Tour will host non-competitive races for people of all ages and abilities, giving them the unprecedented opportunity to race through Edinburgh.

The event is being ran by the Scottish Orienteering 6-Day Event Company, in collaboration with Scottish Orienteering, British Orienteering, VisitScotland, The City of Edinburgh Council, and the University of Edinburgh. For more information, please visit the WOC 2024 and WOC Tour websites.

(Pictured top: Cityscape and crags from Arthurs Seat – Credit The City of Edinburgh Council)