The clip posted by gordhun
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/2008... includes a shot of the COC relay Mass Start. This, sadly, is a lame start. And appears even more lame when shown on TV - our great sport of physical toughness and mental brilliance is shown as a bunch of people standing still, looking confused, then shuffling off in various directions.
The start of a relay is a glorious chance to create spectacle and excitement ... strong runners thundering away into the forest, on a mission.
To get this effect at the start is quite simple....
Have the map pickup a good distance from the start triangle, with a marked route from the map pickup to the start of orienteering. This allows the runners to race away from the start line, creating a wonderful atmosphere.