Orienteering Trivia Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The rules and guidelines for the four main forms of orienteering are governed by the International Orienteering Federation. In which country is it based?

Answer: Finland

The IOF has member countries from every inhabited continent on Earth, and was founded in 1961. It was recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1977.

2. Which of the following is not one of the forms of orienteering to be overseen by the International Orienteering Federation?

Answer: Tag Orienteering

The other form overseen by the IOF is foot orienteering, which was the first form of the sport. It originally began as a training exercise in land navigation for military personnel. The first use of the term Orienteering was recorded in 1886.

3. The "Father of Orienteering" was a Swedish soldier and Scout Leader who organised the first large scale orienteering event in 1919. Who was he?

Answer: Ernst Killander

220 athletes attended Major Killander's event near Stockholm in 1919. As well as developing the rules of the sport, Killander is also credited with coining the word 'orienteering'.

4. People with limited mobilty and/or physical handicap can participate in orienteering on equal terms with the able bodied competitors.

Answer: True

In trail orienteering, it is not necessary for the competitors to actually physically reach the control point. Rather than being a race to find a route from control point to point, competitors are not allowed to leave the predetermined course. The course is along a 'real' path or trail, and the route finding accuracy and navigation skills of the competitors is the most important thing.

The control cards have a multi-choice arrangement, and competitors must decide, from a distance, which of the several control points is the correct one, as marked on the map. Any mobility aid, including help from other people such as a wheelchair pusher, is allowed during trail orienteering, with the exception of a vehicle with an engine.

5. Orienteering maps are specially printed and show more detail of the terrain than a standard map would. The various colours on the map represent different types of terrain. What is represented by white areas on the map?

Answer: Open, runnable forest with good visibility

A forested area where there is undergrowth to impede running but good visibility, is shown with vertical green stripes. Plain green denotes forest with low visibility and reduced running speed, and is graded from slightly reduced to impassable. Open areas are indicated by yellow on the map, and man made features and rock formations, boulders and the like, are shown in black.
Maps are produced according to the IOFs "International Specification for Orienteering Maps".

6. The symbols on an orienteering map are standardised so they can be followed regardless of the native language of the participants. What symbol represents the starting point of a race?

Answer: Triangle

A triangle represents the start, then each control point is shown by a circle. The finishing point is represented by a double circle, one within the other.

7. For an event held using the International Orienteering Federation rules, what colours are used for the 'kite' or flag which marks a control point?

Answer: White and Orange

The control point must have a high visibility flag or kite, a means of identifying which control point it is, known as a 'control code', and a means by which the competitors can mark their race cards to prove they have reached each control point. The IOF uses orange and white flags, as do most other governing bodies. Earlier ones were red and white, but nowadays the standard is orange and white in a pattern of triangles.

8. Sometimes, a control point is positioned such that competitors arrive at, and depart from it by the same route. What name is given to a control point placed in this way?

Answer: Dog-leg

A course design which leads to a dog-leg control point should be avoided, as by being shown where the control point is, it gives an unfair advantage to the following competitor, and 'spoils the fun' for the leading competitor.

9. Orienteering courses are colour coded according to how difficult to complete they are. Which colour is used for the easiest courses, suitable for young children and novices?

Answer: White

The most basic course in orienteering is a 'string course' where the route is actually marked along it's entire length by a string which participants follow. String courses allow even very young children to participate and begin to learn the various map symbols and necessary skills needed to progress in the sport.

The first of the colour coded courses are the white courses, which are usually no more than 3km in length, over easy terrain with good visibility and clear landmarks. Courses progress from white through yellow, orange, green and red, to blue which are the longest and most difficult courses to complete.

10. Which of the following landmarks on an orienteering course would be classed as a 'catching feature'?

Answer: A 100 foot pine tree standing alone in a field

Of the four options, the tree would be the one used as a catching feature. The purpose of a catching feature is to let a participant know they have missed a control point, ie, if you see that particular tree without having reached the control point you were heading for, you have missed it and should go back to look for it. Catching features are large, easily spotted, unmistakeable features on the landscape of the course.

Source: Author Rowena8482

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Often called "The Thinking Sport", orienteering offers a physical and mental challenge to participants of all ages and fitness levels.

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