The XX Ordinary I.O.F. General Assembly

Leibnitz Austria August 4 2000.

The meeting started with a roll call of delegates. 38 delegates were present, 36 with voting status. This was the highest number of delegates to attend an IOF meeting since "O" started. Various people were appointed to check minutes and count votes, then a vote was taken to allow Hungary to re-enter the race for hosting WOC 2005. (Hungary had filled in the application form in a hurry and did not have enough time to read the guidelines and filled out the form incorrectly so their application was rejected) The vote went 26 for, 8 against and 2 abstentions, so the were back in the race (I voted yes).

Various countries applied for full and associate membership, all of which were accepted.

Full member Brazil

Associate members, Uruguay, Venezuela, Greece (Athens), Jamaica, Colombia, D.P.R. Korea, Greece (Thessaloniki), Pakistan.

There are now 58 full and associate members. There was then a vote to allow the Council to decide on the criteria for Trail Orienteering for national and world level: there was a unanimous 'yes'. It was agreed by all that the way towards the Olympics was to get into the world games first. The council urged all countries to send their best teams to the world games, as this is the stepping stone to the Big One. They also urged all member nations to approach their national Olympic committees for a letter of approval to apply for "O" as an Olympic sport. At least 25 letters are needed from around the world to gain approval.

So we came to the two big items on the agenda. Park World Tour World Champs, and where the 2005 WOC. would be held. Before voting on whether to allow a PWTWC, various countries voiced their opinions for and against. Then a request was made for a non-delegate to address the assembly. This had never happened before but as this non-delegate was Jorgen Martensson an exeption was made. He made a strong and emotional appeal to allow this new event to happen and not to waste the years of work, which he and the rest of his team had put into this venture. But he need not have worried because when the vote went through it was carried by a very large majority (I'm afraid I don't have the details of the vote) So the PWTWC will commence next year over a series of 5 to 8 races in 3 to 5 countries. Details later.

Now the other matter, WOC 2005. After Japan, Hungary and Sweden each gave a ten-minute presentation, a vote was taken. There was a draw: 9 votes each for second place, the winners on 19 votes being Japan. So its of to the orient for WOC 2005. I voted for Hungary thinking we have been in Scandinavian terrain enough in the recent past and Hungary would have been reasonably accessible. The good thing about Japan is that very few countries will be able to send their teams on training camps so the field will be levelled somewhat.

Colm Rothery, delegate for Ireland.