O-festivalen

The orienteering recruitment foundation will repeat the success of the previous two years and hand out gift cards worth 500 NOK to all girls in the W14 class starting Saturday’s long distance in the O-Festival.

Ivar Opsahl – you were the founder of the recruitment foundation 13 years ago. What was the idea behind this initiative?

Ivar: I wanted to help focus attention on exciting activities for young orienteers as a step to increasing participation in the youth classes.

How are the funds allocated?

Ivar: We have a steering committee in the recruitment foundation that select prize winners (teams, groups or individuals) and have handed out diplomas and prizes of 10.000 NOK to a total of about 25 winners during these years.

Where did the idea of gift cards to girls at the O-Festival come from?

Ivar: We saw that the age group 14-15 years was particularly vulnerable in the girls classes and we wanted to give attention and motivation to those who wanted to take part in Norway’s biggest event. We started at Trandum in 2006, and got lots of publicity, also on the sports pages of the newspapers and on national television!

The idea was followed up in 2007, when the organisers also contributed with an equivalent sum for M14 boys.

And what about this year?

Ivar: All girls in W14 who start in the O-Festival Saturday 21st June will receive a gift card worth 500 NOK in Trimtex shops. We hope that this can be a little contribution to increase interest… and we reckon that if the girls continue with orienteering, then the boys won’t need any extra motivation