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Orienteering is a sport in which the competitors navigate independently through the terrain. Competitors must visit a number of control points marked on the ground in the shortest possible time aided only by map and compass. The course, defined by the location...

In individual interval start races the competitors navigate and run through the terrain independently.

In mass start and chasing start races, competitors may often be running in close proximity to each other, but the formats still demand independent navigation.

The term competitor means an individual of either sex or a team, as appropriate.

Types of orienteering competition may be distinguished by: the time of the competition: day (in daylight) night (in the dark) the nature of the competition: individual (the individual performs independently) relay (two or more team members run ...

The term Federation means a member Federation of the IOF.

The term event embraces all aspects of an orienteering meeting including organisational matters such as start draws, team officials’ meetings and ceremonies. An event, e.g. a World Championships, may include more than one competition.

The World Games (TWG) Orienteering Event is the official event to award the titles of World Games Champions in Orienteering. It is organised under the auspices of the International World Games Association (IWGA) and under the authority of the IOF and the appoi...

The World Orienteering Championships (WOC) is the official event to award the titles of World Champions in Orienteering. It is organised under the authority of the IOF and the appointed Federation.

The World Cup in Orienteering (WCup) is the official series of events to find the world’s best orienteers, based on several formats, over a season. The different events are organised under the authority of the IOF and the Federations of the organisers.

The Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) is the official event to award the titles of Junior World Champions in Orienteering. It is organised under the authority of the IOF and the appointed Federation.

The World Masters Orienteering Championships (WMOC) is the official event to find the world’s best veteran orienteers. It is organised under the authority of the IOF and the Federation of the organiser.

The Regional Orienteering Championships (ROC) are the official events to award the titles of Regional Champions in Orienteering for each IOF Region. They are organised under the authority of the IOF and the appointed Federation. The IOF Regions are Africa, Asi...

IOF World Ranking Events (WRE) are international events which are accepted by the IOF Council into the official IOF Calendar. They are organised under the authority of the IOF and the Federation of the organiser.

The IOF World Ranking Scheme is a system to rank the World’s Elite Orienteers based on their performances in the World Games, World Orienteering Championships, World Cups, Junior World Orienteering Championships, Regional Championships and World Ranking Events...

The IOF Event Adviser is the person appointed to control an IOF event. In the case of World Games, World Championship, Junior World Championship, World Masters Championship, World Cup and Regional Championship events the title IOF Senior Event Adviser is used.

These rules, together with the Appendices, are binding at the World Games, the World Orienteering Championships, the World Cup in Orienteering, the Junior World Orienteering Championships, the World Masters Orienteering Championships for W21 and M21 elite clas...

Where an event is of two types (e.g. the World Championships may also form a part of the World Cup) the rules for the higher-level event (as defined by the order in 1.8-1.14) take precedence.

These rules are recommended as a basis for national rules.

These rules are valid for orienteering competitions on foot.