Orienteering has already attracted some media coverage and some attention by the public but the complete absence of orienteering maps prevents us from spreading the sport at grass roots level. Nothing will be achieved without a strong infrastructure of maps and events to follow up the publicity and of course adequate funding. Since spreading a new sport should start from a grass roots level, collaboration with school authorities and environmental centres is of vital importance. However, the school authorities are reluctant to allow children to run in the neighbouring forests. Up to a certain level this fear is justified. For example there have been incidents of cars being broken into. Koukouris' car was broken while he was collecting the control points after an orienteering event.
So far we have organized about 50 open O-events, 3 night events, 2 O-events for ex-commando forces, about 10 school events, and numerous speeches about orienteering drills in hiking clubs, in the offices of ex-commando forces, in schools and in the Physical Education Department. So far more than 1000 complete beginners have taken part in about 50 O-events. All of the participants have completed a questionnaire after the event with some useful information about their background. Konstantinos Koukouris translated the orienteering rules into the Greek language.
In the past some orienteering games have been organized by outdoor companies on behalf of Marlboro Adventure, Camel Trophy etc. Advertising was of a massive scale on highway billboards. Surprisingly, some of these people are somewhat confused about what orienteering is all about e.g. use of GPS during orienteering, small control flags instead of standard size, confusion about wayfairing, orienteering and rogaining etc.
Short History of the events in Greece
The first decade has seen a steady but very slow development of orienteering with the organization of local events in various parts of Greece as well as a growing public interest in the sport. Scouts have used simple orienteering games for educational purposes for many years. During the period 1986 to 1990 Theofilos Masmanidis, a Physical Education teacher, organized several orienteering games, but very basic in nature. The routes consisted of 6 control points in the forest, there were no compasses and the map was very basic without scale.
As a member of two British clubs YMOC and ODR Koukouris took part in many orienteering events in England and Wales. Later on Koukouris attended a course at Plas Y Brenin Centre, the British National Mountaineering Centre, where he got an instructor�s award. After his return from Britain he realized that there was nothing organized in Greece. In July 1994 Koukouris organized an orienteering event for people with learning difficulties using official control markers and control cards in a camp site. In January 1996, disabled people took part in an orinteering event for recreational purposes outside a mountain refuge under snowy conditions. In June 1996, 51 children from a primary school took part in an orienteering event within the grounds of a camp site. Following the success of these events, and having being equipped with proper flags, the private company �Alma� organized two recreational events during the summer of 1996. Also, the private company 'Trekking Hellas' has organized a few commercially-oriented recreational games.
In December 1996 Dr. Alexandros Liolios, Vice-president of the Ex-Commando Club of Salonica invited Koukouris to organise an orienteering event in the forest of Salonica. Although the map was simple, depicting only the main paths in the forest, the event was a great success. Consequently in February 1997 the Physical Education Department of Salonica and the Greek Ex-Commando club organized the First Open National Orienteering Event in Greece. It was the first real O- event in Greece using official control cards, control markers, compasses and certificates of participation. The standards were higher than any previous event. Prior to the event Koukouris gave two introductory talks about orienteering in Salonica. The event was announced on the radio, advertised in newspapers and covered by the state television on the evening news bulletin. The 30 competitors who took part thoroughly enjoyed the event which was covered a great success. Later on on May 23rd 1997, Koukouris organized another open orienteering event with the help of Mr. Zacharias Kiaffas. About 50 competitors took part in the event. The event was covered by a local newspaper.
On November 23rd 1997, the Physical Education Department of the University of Thessaloniki organized the 3rd Open Championship in the same area. About 60 people took part in this successful event. On November 27th 1997, Professor Mr Bengt Saltin gave a lecture about orienteering to a full auditorium consisting of professors and students of the Physical Education Department. It is worth mentioning that in 1998 despite the unprecedented bad weather the 5th Open O-event was very successful. The mountainous area of Hortiatis was covered with thick fog. The heavy rain transformed the dirt tracks into muddy roads. Many people paid for the bus but they preferred not to come at the last minute. Cars were sliding on the muddy roads. The start of the event was inside the refuge but 72 people, most of them hikers, turned out on the day of the event and were very enthusiastic.
During March 1999 Koukouris was invited by the Municipality of Chania in Crete to look into possibilities of developing outdoor activities on a disputed area. This area which is of outstanding beauty was under threat from private companies who wanted to build a hotel and an aquarium. As an alternative I suggested the development of outdoor activities in the area, including orienteering.
In 1999 we have also taken part in a project called "Sports Education and Health" about innovative teaching methods in Physical Education. This project was supported financially by EEC. With the collaboration of the students in the P.E. Department we have made some steps towards promoting the sport in 14 schools. We organized (perhaps for first time ever in Greece) a string course for over 40 six-year-olds in a forest. For this purpose Koukouris collaborated with the Department of Pedagogy. The pupils in the school events were so thrilled by the sport that some of them decided to run the same race two, three and even four times!
The first seminar on orienteering in Greece.
On 13th of May 1999 an orienteering seminar was organized by the Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science of the University of Thessaloniki and the Academy for the Education of Sports Staff, an institution under the auspices of the Special Secretariat of Sports in Thessaloniki. Mrs Barbro Ronnberg, General Secretary of IOF visited Thessaloniki for four days in May 1999. The seminar was attended by over 80 people and was very successful. A lot of promotional material was distributed during the seminar but made very little impact.
The largest open to all orienteering event ever organized in Greece
On Saturday 15th of May 1999 we organized the 3rd night O-event took place on Hortiatis mountain near Thessaloniki. There were 26 orienteers in the one hour score event, a record number to date. Many of them commented that they would have enjoyed a course of longer duration. Participants were so satisfied with the event that one hour was very prohibiting for them. The local hiking club SEO organized a get together to coincide at their refuge in the same location for the Saturday night to coincide with the O-event. The main O-event (8th open O-event) took place on Sunday 16th of May 1999 and was attended by 170 participants, again a record number of participants in comparison to the previous record of 84 people who took part in the 7th open O-event in February 1999.
Contacts with the local authorities
During her visit, Mrs Barbro Ronnberg had the opportunity of visiting certain Greek authorities including the head of Mass Sport in the perfecture of Thessaloniki and the head of Sport and Health issues in the perfecture of Thessaloniki. She also visited Mr.Karteris, professor of telepiskopisi, forest management and geographical systems information for the University of Thessaloniki. Mrs Barbro Ronnberg accompanied by Mr. Konstantinos Koukouris also gave a live interview on State television ERT-3.
In November 2000 the Greek orienteering club of Thessaloniki organized the first ever international orienteering event in Greece. Seventy-nine Scandinavians took part in the event. The event was covered by Greek television. In September 2001 three Greeks participated in the Balkan championship in Strumnica for first time ever. Greece appeared in the list of the Balkan countries for first time ever. In November 2002 the Greek orienteering club of Thessaloniki organized the second ever international orienteering event in Greece. Fifty-five Scandinavians took part in the event.On November 2001 Koukouris was invited by the Municipality of Vrilissia, Athens to organize the first ever seminar of orienteering in Athens. The seminar was very successful. An orienteering training session took part in the streets of Vrilissia.
On November 2002, the 2nd International orienteering event took part in the forests of Salonica and 55 Scandinavians participated. The race was reported by a leading newspaper in Greece. On August 2002 the cultural and sporting club "Alexander the Great" of Lefkopigi Kozani organized the 25th orienteering race along with other sporting activities. The president of the club Mr Kerasiotis Konstantinos helped a lot with the events. Mr Paschos Minas and Mr Tsitselis Markos were leading organizers. The orienteering races continue every summer.
On November 2002 the Physical Education office of the Secondary Education Authorities in Dodecanese islands invited Mr Konstantinos Koukouris and Mr Paschos Minas in Rodhes for a seminar. About 120 Physical Education teachers took part in the seminar. The central issue of the seminar was the link between orienteering and outdoor activities with tourism.
On 14th of November 2003, the 34th open orienteering event was organized in the nearest forest to Thessaloniki. A group of immigrant people from Georgia and Azerbatjan were holding a festivity in the same place. After the feast and having consumed several bottles of vodka they smashed their bottles on the ground and broke the car stealing an identity card, a mobile phone, portable radios, CD-player etc. This psychological and financial damage will prohibit any further organizing of orienteering events in this forest where we have the only coloured orienteering map in Greece.
On March 2005 Mr Konstantinos Koukouris and Mr Masmanidis Theofilos went to Makrinitsa, Pelion for a seminar organized by the Environmental Centre of Makrinitsa. Mr Georgios Grassos taught orienteering skills to the participants. The participants took part in an orienteering training event in the cobblestones of the traditional village.
During the environmental day on June 5th, 2006 the Municipality authorities of Mikra organized outdoor activities for 250-270 school children. Konstantinos Koukouris and Zioutas Dimitris played a key role with the organizing.
The head of the mapping committee of the International Orienteering Federation professor Mr Laszlo Zentai visited Thessaloniki. Mr Konstantinos Koukouris met him on December 6th, 2006 and discussed the future development of the sport in Greece and the mapping problems. The first ever book devoted exclusively to orienteering was published by The Ministry of Education and the Environmental Centre of Makrinitsa on 2007. The author, Mr Georgios Grassos, made an excellent job. On December 2007 the Central Library of Veria organized an orienteering game within the city. Mr Stamoulis Konstantinos organized the first ever orienteering game for school children within a city.
On April 2008 the Environmental Centre of Kato Poroia, Serres organized a seminar for Secondary school teachers. The participants took part in an orienteering training event in the forest of Sidirokastro castle. Mr Konstantinos Koukouris worked with the map on several visits to the forest. Mr Georgios Grassos also taught orienteering skills to the participants.
On November 2008, the Environmental Centre of Makrinitsa organized a seminar for Secondary school teachers working in Environmental Centres all over Greece. The central issue of the seminar was the traditional stone bridges of Greece. Reference was made about orienteering.
Reasons for taking part
According to a survey which Koukouris conducted, curiosity / new experience is the main factor which attracts newcomers to orienteering The sport has good fame- a young woman gave as the main reason for participating: - the information I had from my friend and the good experiences he had from a previous event. I wanted to have the same experiences. The sport brings people from urban areas into contact with nature. A student of the P.E. Department said: I would like to see the development of the sport which will attract people to nature. In this way people will get to know themselves. A P.E. teacher said: I have been involved with youth camp sites for over a decade and I like whichever sport is closely connected with nature. A professional involved in recreation business said I am interested in the professional promotion of the sport. A lot of children participated in this latest event, most of them being pupils in a local language school. One pupil said: I thought it would be a good adventure- to be the winners. Another pupil said: I saw it as a game. A good opportunity to get to know the beautiful mountain paths.
Our Contacts with the orienteering world
Todor Kazakof, previous General Secretary of the Bulgarian Orienteering Federation visited Konstantinos Koukouris twice in 1997. Together they visited the forest of Thessaloniki and discussed how the sport could be promoted in Greece. In 1995 and 1997 Mr. Kazakof sent two letters to the Greek Alpine Federation suggesting a meeting to promote the sport in the Balkans. He never received an answer. The people in charge of the Greek Alpine Federation want to safeguard their interests and are ignorant of the sport.
On 6th and 7th of July 1997 the forest of Thessaloniki was burnt by arsonists. A few days later Koukouris met the Swedish orienteer and cartographer Jan-Olov Andersson in Thessaloniki and we visited some forests suitable for orienteering around the city. Jan-Olof was one of the teachers in the O-Ringen International Seminar in Umeo, Sweden which Koukouris attended in July 1997.
In the meantime, Petropoulos Theodoros from the company Alma attended the World Championship as a spectator in Grimstand, Norway in August 1997. The Greek disabled athlete Anastasia Asteriou participated in trail-orienteering. Petropoulos also attended the 6th International Scientific Symposium on Orienteering in Oslo 18th and 19th of August. During the summer of 1997 ALMA company organized a recreational orienteering events for a Greek language camp "Yuppy" campsite and young scouts. On October 1st, 1997 Iordanka Melnikliyska, member of IOF visited Thessaloniki for discussions and met Koukouris.
Mrs Solveig Sikkeland and Mr Svein Jacobsen from the Norwegian Orienteering Federation visited Greece in 1997. The president of the Norwegian General Secretariat of sport Mr Arne Myhrvold visited Ancient Olympia. During their trip to Ancient Olympia they inspected the area and found that orienteering could be organized there during the Olympic Games of 2004. They along with Koukouris also visited the National Geographic Service in Athens. They had a long and interesting discussion about orienteering. Orienteering has moved from infancy to childhood. Greece became an IOF Associate member in 2000 and hasn't become full member because of financial and administrative problems.
Collaboration with other Orienteers in the Balkans
On 8-10th of May 1998 about 18 orienteers took part in an International Seminar for controllers in Belgrade. All participants were awarded controllers' diploma except Koukouris. The reason being that Greece is not a member of IOF. Apart from the seminar the representatives of the Balkan countries discussed about the Balkan championship. Iordanka Melnikliskayia suggested that the term 'sociable character' of the Games should be excluded from the text of the rules. Every international ranking event should be competitive. However, considering the past and recent wars in the Balkans the 'sociable characterť of the Games should be preserved. As a representative of Yugoslavia pointed out in the Balkan championship every country competes against all other countries and every Federation against other Federations. Sport competition is supposed to improve the friendship amongst nations. This is true only when the competing nations are already friendly. Otherwise, when they are enemies, then Sport competition escalates conflict.
During summer 2003 two orienteers from Greece took part in the World ranking event in Kopaonik Serbia. On October 2004 Konstantinos Koukouris travelled alone to Skopije and competed in an World ranking orienteering event in Vodno. Mr Konstantinos Koukouris and Mr Lazaridis Dimitris participated in the Bulgarian cup celebrating the 50th anniversary of orienteering in Bulgaria. Afterwards, Mr Konstantinos Koukouris went to the University of Sophia, Bulgaria to participate in the celebrations of the 50 years of the Bulgarian Orienteering Federation.
On August 2005 Mr Konstantinos Koukouris and Mr Masmanidis Theofilos competed in a world ranking event by the lake Vodoca near Strumnitsa, FYROM. On September 2007 Mr Konstantinos Koukouris competed in the Balkan championship in Berovo, FYROM and took part in the discussions of all Balkan representatives.
Mr Konstantinos Koukouris participated in a 6-days orienteering event in Myrtyr Tydfil South Wales 'CROESO 2008'
There is complete lack of suitable orienteering maps in Greece
The main obstacle for the development of the sport in Greece is the lack of orienteering maps. Until recently the only maps available (after application at the Army Geographical Service in Athens) were military dating back to 1970! This presented mountaineers as well as any other interested people with the unusual task of finding their way around a mountainous country without map and compass. Recently, some private companies published well researched maps compatible with GPS. People who are interested in maps need a special permit from the Army Geographical Service in Athens. This presents the organizer of orienteering events with the unusual task of drawing his own sketchy maps. Thanks to the efforts of the editorial board of 'Korphes' magazine, we are now able to use maps with sufficient information for walking activities. The first detailed map based on scientific information was published in 1986 by the magazine. The Army Geographical Service in Athens finally agreed to permit the reproduction of maps. However, these maps on 1:50000 scale are insufficient for orienteering purposes.
In September 1997 the book '1200 klm on foot' was published by a major publishing company in Athens. In this book the author Vasilis Tsiakmakis describes how he and Dimitris Hronopoulos hikers walked along all the Greek borders with Albania, ex-Yugoslavia, Bulgaria to the three nations border in Evros (Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey) without adequate maps! In only a few cases the hikers walked using maps of 1:50000. Usually they had to use maps of 1:200000 or even 1:300000.
Adninistrative issues, internal conflicts and orienteering
The sport of orienteering could be hosted by the Mountaineering Federation. To his honour the ex vice-president of the Mountaineering Federation Mr. Epaminondas Nikas acknowledged his ignorance about the sport. Mr. Epaminondas Nikas also acknowledged that �orienteering� is not included in the constitution of the Federation. There is a reference however to the nebulous term 'mountain activities' which indirectly includes the term orienteering. The Government has voted a new sports law in the Parliament. According to the new law, for the creation of a new Federation 20 orienteering clubs should decide! A new Federation could become recognized only if it cultivates a sport which is under the auspices of the IOC! In this way the Government accepts the IOC as the sole authority for sports in the world.
We are very often surprised and also disappointed to hear inaccurate statements about orinteering on the media. For example, a representative of a private recreation company mentioned during a TV interview on orienteering, that an orienteering event has never been organized in Greece! It was also said that the Orienteering Headquarters are located in England! In various written articles in Greek magazines and newspapers many people simply refuse to accept the fact that the Greek orienteeering club of Thessaloniki has organized many successful open O events in Nortern Greece. In Athens, Sotirhos Nikos and his now no longer functioning club 'Greek Orienteering club' have just organized the first ever O-event in Athens but they gave the impression that it was the 1st ever in Greece!
Although the Greek flag appeared for the first time in Umeo, Sweden, someone insisted that it appeared in Grimstand, Norway. These constant efforts to undermine the success of the Greek orienteeering club of Thessaloniki were very dissapointing.
Orienterering and the Greek sports law
According to the previous Greek sports law there are the following prerequisites for the representation of athletic clubs with a voting right in a General Meeting of a Federation: a) the athletic club must be a regular member of the Sports Federation and b) the athletic club should have 10 active athletes with proven participation in athletic events. A representative of an athletic club has the right to participate in a General Meeting of a Federation only when 1) he represents one club, 2) he has the approval of the administrative council of his club, 3) he is not an active athlete himself of his club (!), and 4) he is not punished by the Federation (Srouzas and Ikonomou 1993). The only club in Greece which has more than 10 active athletes with proven participation in athletic events is the Greek Orienteering Club of Thessaloniki. Although, a Sports Federation has public characteristics (financial assistance from the State, State control of the distribution of money, exercise of power in favour of the public), it is in fact, as regards its structure and relationships with others, a private Institution (Panagiotopoulos, 1993 b).
Personnel for the existing vacancies in a new Federation will be appointed by the Subministry of Sport after a proposal by the Administrative Council of the new Federation. The salaries of the new personnel are paid by the Subministry of Sport. However, if a vacancy in a new Federation has not been defined by the State then the Federation is responsible for the salaries (Sports Law 75/1975, article 14, new paragraph 6). All athletic Federations are subsidized by the State and are reponsible for submitting a report of receipts or disbursements to the State. Citizens residing outside Athens could be elected in the Administrative Council of the new Orientering Federation but not more than 50% (Law 423/76, article 5, paragraph 2)! This is a tragedy for sports like Orienteering which develop outside Athens. According to the Greek Sports Law, the President, the General Secretary and the Bursar of the new Orientering Federation must be permanent residents of Athens! The reason for this regulation is that the Federation Administrators should keep in contact with the State. This keeps out the best and most sincere non-Athenians automatically out of the �big game�. The development of the sport in Greece could easily end up in complete shambles. There are many examples from other new Federations where ignorant people with limited knowledge of the sport took control of the situation and caused havoc.
With the new law at least twenty administrative councils of orienteering and hiking clubs should decide and send their representatives to a Constitutional General Meeting. The problem is that there aren't that many orienteering clubs in Greece.