A bid from China seems to be a bit hopeful. It comes from "China International Sports Travel" which has has held "several" orienteering events, but there is no sign of any rogaining having been held. The main contenders will be Arizona, USA and South Australia.
South Australia has all the necessary credentials, with a wealth of organising experience and two Australian Championships under its belt. The area proposed is the in Flinders Ranges, a semi-outback area with light vegetation that will pose little obstacle to progress. The most notable feature of the area is Wilpena Pound, a ring of hills enclosing an oasis, where a number of major rogaines and orienteering events have been held.
But the international spread of rogaining may be better served by holding the championships in a non-Australian country, the same reasons which saw the 4th World Champs come to New Zealand against an undoubtedly better NSW proposal. The Tucson Orienteering Club has been holding rogaines since 1991, and 24hr events since 1997. The proposed location is the Mogollon Rim. Other attractions would include a 2-day orienteering event, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert and the Hopi Mesas.
The decision will be made by the still informal International Rogaining Federation.
Written by Michael Wood and installed on 11 Dec 00