Discussion: It totally counts as orienteering

if you ran a course on the map. Not if you just had a blank O map though.

Definitely a course, so I'll consider myself endorsed to count it.

Hmm...we need to establish a Global Guiding Council of what does / doesn't count as orienteering (is a map enough? a map with a course but no controls? a map with a course and controls that you've put out yourself? etc.)

And indeed to establish what does / doesn't count as a country! There are some edge cases like Greenland but also say if you orienteered in Prague in 1985 and 2005, is that two countries or one?

I've been thinking of putting up a site for country-collectors like myself to compare notes - but haven't got round to it.

On a separate note I'm sure Blair you'll run in Singapore again one day as they're doing some really cool stuff (their first WRE is next June), so the point may soon be moot.

Blair is all about accumulating world ranking points.

Arnold>>> Others have been thinking about that question before.

PWT Travel have actually produced a "passport/booklet" where they provide stamps whenever you´ve collected a new country.
As you say - is Prague and Prague actually in two different countries? How about Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania vs the old Soviet Union? All the new countries in old Yugoslavia? East Germany, West Germany and present Germany?

PS. I´m at 32 with some of the countries above counted double where applicable. This doesn´t really mean anything in the big run where the likes of Peo Bengtsson and Jörgen Mårtensson have collected well over 120!

Don't forget New Holland and Australia.

How many recognized orienteers were there in New Holland back in the day?

I assume they all were since all they did was create maps of the place.

Spoke to Peo last week and I think he’s just below 100. Frode Konst not far behind. Dirk Goossens is also up there with 55-ish, although I’m trying to catch up (45 at last count).

But there must be a lot more people lurking in the wings, waiting to come out!

OK, maybe not 120 then. On his own webpage it says 112 and I think Jörgen is close.

Bah, it's easier when you live in Europe. Talk to me when you've found someone from Australia on 100 where we count it as a minor miracle when you've orienteered in all eight states and territories (in both foot and MTBO).