Northern Ireland Orienteering Association

Public benefits

The benefits flowing from the purpose include improvement in health, an enhanced well-being, the opportunity to visit beautiful locations and spend time in nature, the development of decision-making and self-reliance and the camaraderie associated with taking part in sport with others. The sport of orienteering in Northern Ireland is open to all of

both genders with participation and competition from "age 8 to 80". Orienteering offers many benefits, but its real attraction is that it is simply fun! It is a joy to run (or walk) through forests, fields, parks, mountainside and urban terrain. The ultimate quest for the orienteer is to find the balance between mental and physical exertion, to know how fast to go and still be able to interpret the terrain and execute a route choice successfully. Orienteering is a lifetime fitness sport that also challenges the mind. It offers the obvious development of individual skills in navigating while problem solving to locate each control. Decision making is paramount. Orienteers learn to be self-reliant since most orienteering is individual. Orienteering builds self-esteem; it takes courage to forge ahead by oneself through unknown areas, particularly in the forests that are not familiar to those who live in urban areas. Spatial relationships become more meaningful as the orienteer has to plan how to get from one place to another and figure out whether the chosen route goes uphill or downhill and when and how far. Orienteers learn to recognize and use new resources, whether they are the map and compass, the park or playground, or the more personal resources of fitness and mental agility. Precision (or Trail) Orienteering is a form of the sport which is accessible to physically disabled competitors on equal terms as able-bodied. In common with all sports there is a risk of injury, which is minor in this non-contact sport and is outweighed by the overall benefit. The benefits are demonstrated by the continued organisation and participation in annual championships for the various forms of the sport and annual leagues, promotion of junior development, performance development and participation development and the support of mapping projects and those selected for international representation. There is no private benefit available to individuals other than those also available to the general public, who may benefit personally in terms of increased personal health, development of personal skills and opportunities to spend more time in nature.

What your organisation does

The Association, with the support of constituent clubs: organises annual championships for the various forms of the sport organises annual leagues support mapping project supports athletes selected for international representation promotes junior development promotes performance development promotes participation development