From the IOF web page...
15 August 2003
The Russian Orienteering Federation has informed the IOF that they will have to withdraw from organising the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) in 2004.
Due to a recent change in the Russian visa procedure, there have been problems for teams in obtaining visas and some federations have had to cancel their scheduled training camps. Therefore, the Russian Orienteering Federation has concluded that they cannot guarantee participation on an equal basis to teams from all IOF member countries and, as a consequence, they have asked the IOF to appoint another organiser for the event.
The IOF very much regrets the decision of the Russian Orienteering Federation but, in light of the circumstances, accepts the withdrawal. Measures have already been taken in order to find a new organiser willing and capable of taking on the organisation task with this short notice.
The Junior World Orienteering Championships is an annual event. Switzerland has been appointed organiser of the 2005 event. Lithuania will host the 2006 JWOC and Australia is the organiser of the 2007 JWOC.
Well this is definitely a big surprise. My guess is that it will end up in one of the Scandinavian countries. Probably Sweden or Finland since they are the only ones with the capability of organizing such a big event on such short notice. Maybe Sweden could work out some kind of big month of Orienteering that would include both the Junior and Senior World Champs as well as the Oringen. That sounds like fun!
I just heard that Scotland is interested as is some Norwegian club. I imagine they will announce it soon.
IOF just announced that it'll be Poland in 2004.