2006
On March 7, we carried out the “FIRST INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP ON PRECISION ORIENTEERING (adapted), WITH SENIOR CITIZENS.” As part of the “JUBILAXION” introduced by the National Sports Department in EZEIZA, with a map prepared by M Rodríguez and O Bianchi, and led by Ana M Vázquez and Paula Montes
In June, Prof. ANA MARIA VAZQUEZ proposed and conducted within the course “OUTDOOR SCHOOL CAMPS” of the Teacher Training Program of the Education Department of Buenos Aires City Government (CePA – ZAP), a workshop on INTRODUCTION TO ORIENTEERING, with a racing event based on a map she prepared of the Educational Farm of Luz y Fuerza association, in Virrey del Pino, Buenos Aires Province.
The course was conducted with thirty teachers from various educational fields, of the Buenos Aires City Government.
Fourth Meeting of South American National Orienteering Federations and First Forest Championship
On July 23-24, this much awaited activity took place. It had been announced in December 2005 by the President of our Federation, at the South American Championship of Río Grande do Sul, Brazil.
We used a brand-new map which we devised –with the help of the Military Geographic Institute- of a large area of the Ezeiza Forest.
As always, we counted on the cooperation of the National Sports Department, the Argentine Army, which gave us healthcare support, and a large number of officers, NCOs and civilians who participated in the control of the event and in other scheduled activities.
The Tourism and Sports Department of the Buenos Aires Province Government arranged for the event to be declared in the provincial interest.
We would like to make special mention of the members of the Uruguayan Orienteering Federation, who in spite of the problems that arose with a border crossing –which had nothing to do with the sport and forced us to reschedule the event- attended the event with a full team of athletes and leaders, and had an excellent performance in the tests and in the technical meetings.
We also implemented a computer program for controlling the events, which we downloaded with the authorization of its author, from the webpage of BAVECO from Santa Catarina, Brazil, free of charge, operated by Lic. Norma Rivera, who was also in touch with the author, creating a fruitful technical dialog between them.
These attitudes boost and reinforce the true cooperation flow that must exist between those who have attained higher levels of progress and those who, like us, are trying to learn and grow.
Unfortunately, the Presidents and /or representatives of the national entities were unable to meet to address organizational, statutory, and operational issues of our incipient regional organization, in spite of having made the necessary arrangements, because only the representatives of the Uruguayan Orienteering Federation responded to our invitation.
The information about this International Meeting is highlighted with a different font in this summary, because it was our launch in the preparation, management and execution of an event that we owed to ourselves, in order to be evaluated by all those who had helped us grow.
September
Introduction to Orienteering Sport in School Camps, at schools of the Buenos Aires City Government. Organized and led by Professor Ana María Vázquez.
Music School J. P. Esnaola: organization and execution of the event “Orienteering Sport in a School Camp,” with 48 boys and girls from second year, four teachers and the Assistant Principal of the School, distributed in twenty teams, with twenty control points. Buenos Aires, September 5, 2006.
Orienteering Sport at the National Military School
Marcelo Rodríguez started the second semester of the year with the Orienteering Subject of the Basic Course of the Physical Education Program at the Argentine Army, at the National Military School (Training of Physical Education Officers).
Introduction to Orienteering Sport in primary schools with a concentration in sports, Buenos Aires City Government,
School No. 15, DE: 6º: First Workshop on Orienteering Sport, with thirty seventh-grade boys and girls, taught by Prof. Ana María Vázquez, invited by the establishment. Buenos Aires City, August 23, 2006.
Introduction to Orienteering Sport at Schools in Greater Buenos Aires
Music School J. P. Esnaola, DE 14: fifth year. Professor: Ana María Vázquez. Introduction to the sport and development, as part of annual planning. 2006.
Introductory Seminar to Orienteering Sport
Taught at the Gral. BELGRANO Military School (National Route 11, Km. 482, Recreo, Santa Fe Province, with fourth and fifth year students and professors from this establishment. Led by Lic. Osvaldo Bianchi, and coordinated by EF Fernández and EF Bachinsky, on September 19.
The program was divided in two parts: a theoretical and practical session at the Institute’s auditorium, and a race that was carried out with a map designed by Lic Bianchi, of the vast premises that said Institute has in Recreo, Santa Fe province.
It should be noted that the race took place under persistent rain, providing another incentive for the race, which was welcomed by the cadet students.
Intensive Introductory Course on Orienteering Sport
Conducted at Instituto Superior de Educación Física Nº 27, “Prof. César S. Vásquez”, Santa Fé: for students and teachers, led by Lic. Osvaldo A. Bianchi and Lic. Marcelo R. Rodríguez. September 22-23, 2006
The Workshop took three days of intensive theoretical and practical work, with a marked orientation towards basic technical and teaching aspects. For the execution of the field activities, the Institute’s facilities and the site of the Centro de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo of Santa Fe City were used.
The Course closed with a competition of all participants. It was coordinated by Prof. Juan Manuel Moretti from ISEF Santa Fe.
We also worked on a new map of the “South Park” in the historical-governmental district of Santa Fe City, with the objective to organize a new course and competition there.
PWT Visit
On November 1, 2006, we organized an Orienteering event for a group of 130 highly skilled orienteers from Europe, led by Jörgen Martensson (several times World Champion) and a large number of local orienteers, both civilian and military, who had a choice of a short, medium and long route we prepared at no cost for participants.
We believe it was our final exam in terms of route design and event organization, as we did not receive any criticism. Thank you! Jörgen Matersson and Milton Orrego, who was our special guest.
Orienteering Sport at Universidad de Flores – UFLO
Orienteering Sport Seminar with students of the Physical Education Program at Universidad de Flores. (UFLO), Eighth Graduation Class.
The event was held on October 21, from 2 to 6 pm at the UFLO building and on November 25, from 9 am to 5.30 pm in Ezeiza, with the attendance of prominent entities associated with outdoor activities and adventure sports, invited by Professor GABRIEL ANDREU. The finishing touch as a race with a route of intermediate difficulty.
The seminar was led by Prof. Vázquez and Licentiates Bianchi and Rodríguez.
World Military Orienteering Championship - International Military Sports Council (CISM) - ORIENTEERING 2006 – Brazilian Military Sports Confederation (CDMB)
This major championship organized by CDMB convened participants from 28 countries all over the world, including the President of the Orienteering Sport Federation of Argentina, in his capacity as retired military man.
It was held in a fascinating site, the Faxinal do Céu Training Center, in Guarapuava, Pinhâo, Paraná, BRAZIL.
In our opinion, it was the largest event of Orienteering Sport ever conducted in South America, with an organization in which nothing was left to chance; the most outstanding feature was the warmth, dedication and honesty in procedures demonstrated by all the members of the Brazilian Military Sports Confederation.
Seriousness, excellence in technical and sports activity and a polite treatment was experienced throughout the Championship.
We would be unfair if we mentioned anyone in particular—everything was marvelous.
At the event, a meeting was held with the IOF representative (Fernando Gómez), and the representatives of almost all countries in the Americas as well as the members of the Spanish Delegation. The meeting served to exchange ideas and opinions and to establish pre-agreements.
The anecdote is that there were delegations of South American military men that were not aware of the existence of a Federation and / or Association. At the meeting, the possibility of bringing to our countries highly-skilled Spanish or Portuguese speaking personalities, through the IOF.
This is in agreement with our theory, already put forward at the Cartagena de Indias Congress, which we attended thanks to the fact that the Argentine Olympic Committee paid our ticket, and due to the brilliant organization provided by the Colombian Orienteering Federation and the Colombian Olympic Committee. There we expressed, as is stated in the Agreement, among other things, that we should “have Spanish or Portuguese speakers of renowned professional track record come to our country.”
“Orienteering tourism” trips are also good, but they do not facilitate participation by many South Americans or the transfer of knowledge in courses of credible duration and contents.
We believe that his meeting was very important and clarified a series of aspects, such as:
In view of the degree of organizational and executive efficiency of the World Military Orienteering Championship that we mention in this Chapter and based on our experience from many competitions conducted in that country, it may be concluded that BRAZIL has reached the highest state of development in the Orienteering Sport in South America, and has achieved it particularly through its Armed Forces, with an intelligent, uninterrupted effort since 1970, as perhaps Colonel TOLENTINO PAZ DA SILVA, a pioneer of Orienteering, and General JOSE CALAZANS DE CARVALLO may have dreamed it. In addition, it has relied on the continued dedication and interest of many officers, NCOs and civilians who joined efforts, like those who participated in the 1983 event in Curitiba or those who in 1986 jointly with Prof. LEDUC FAHUT, and disseminated the sport for civilians across several cities of BRAZIL, creating the Brasilia Orienteering Club and the Floresta Orienteering Club, founded by military from the three Armed Forces in conjunction with civilians who were interested in this practice.
The proposals we put forward at the meeting reflected our reality, which is very different from that of Brazil or other South American countries, and was clearly set out.
2007
February
We held coordination meetings with the management of the organizations at which the activities would be carried out.
March
March 27: “Orienteering Sport Day,” jointly organized with the Argentine Military Sports Federation, with the attendance of 75 members of the Armed Forces (Officers, NCOs, cadets and aspirants), with a race at the closing. Led by Lic. Bianchi, in cooperation with Argentine Army Officers, Lic. Marcelo Rodríguez and Prof. Ana María Vázquez
April
April 20: Coordination meeting with the Sports Department of Buenos Aires Province and the Esteban Echverría Municipality.
Design and preparation of the “Orienteering at School” project.
May
Universidad Maimónides
We developed the contents of the Orienteering Sport for the Outdoor Sports subject of the Physical Education Study Program.
We carried out an Orienteering Race in the Ezeiza Forest, with university students, led by Marcelo Rodríguez and Albero Gherardi. We contributed materials for routes.
June
Second half of June, Instituto Superior Modelo Bella Vista (Physical Education Teacher Training School). We developed the contents of the Orienteering Sport for the Outdoor Sports subject.
Orienteering race at the Ezeiza site for the Institute’s students, led by Rodríguez and Bianchi
June 30: Workshop at GEBA for children. Led by Prof. Ana Ma Vázquez.
July
July 3: Briefing at FASTA University, in San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro Province. With the support of the Military Mountain School of the Argentine Army and the Command of Education and Doctrine of the Argentine Army. The audience included staff of the Argentine Army, the National Coast Guard, a representative of the Rio Negro Provincial Government, students from Universidad Nacional del Comahue, FASTA and teachers from the area, led by Lic Bianchi.
July 13 to 29: At the Pan-American Games, in Brazil, we delivered a brochure about our sport, through the internal mail of the various Pan-American National Olympic Committees present.
July 19: We supported, with resources and personnel, Professor Ana M Vazquez in a competition for eighty-five students of third and fourth years of high school at Music School J. Pedro Esnaola, reporting to the Buenos Aires City Government.
July 29: Clinic at GEBA for children members, with an event inside the Club. Led by Lic. Bianchi and Professor Vázquez.
August
August 17: Awards provided by the Federation were given to students of Pedro Esnaola School in said establishment.
As from August, Marcelo Rodríguez continued the Orienteering Subject at the Argentine Army Physical Education Training Course.
August 7-8: Four “Introductory Workshops, with 120 high school students that later on participated in the Seminar on Orienteering Sport in Schools, from Esteban Echeverría, led by Lic. Bianchi and Prof. Durand
August 26: Reinsertion of the Orienteering Sport in the most important sports tournament held at the National Military School, through a competition with different routes and categories. Event lead: Officer Head of the Physical Education Department. Event Director / Organizer: Lic Marcelo Rodríguez, with the cooperation of Prof. Ana M Vazquez and students of Instituto Modelo Bella Vista. The federation provided materials (Markers – Control Posts ) and the original map of the site.
August 29: Coordination meeting with personnel of the Sports Department of the Esteban Echeverría Municipality, Inspector and Teachers of the School Council, for the preparation of the Seminar on Orienteering Sport in Schools.
September
September 12: “Seminar on Orienteering Sport in Schools,” sponsored by the Buenos Aires Province Government, through the Tourism and Sports Department, the Municipality of the Esteban Echeverría District - Monte Grande School Council – the National Sports Department. The event gathered one hundred primary school students with their respective teachers. They were all given a compass and a t-shirt with the event’s emblem.
October
October 4: Event with 20 control points, at the Music School J P Esnaola, School District No. 14, as part of the activities of an Educational Camp, with the participation of 39 students, led by Professor Ana María Vázquez.
October 20: Universidad de Flores, Seminar, with practical tasks, delivered at the University venue, for students of the Physical Activities and Sports Program. Led by Lic. Bianchi, Lic. Lic Rodríguez and Professor Vázquez (as we have been doing since 1999).
November
November 17 and 18: Participation of our Orienteer Ana María Vázquez in Uruguay’s National Orienteering Championship, invited by the Uruguayan Orienteering Federation.
December
December 1: Theoretical and practical class and orienteering event for the students of high school “Instituto Superior Modelo Bella Vista” and combined Adventure Sport activities at the Nature Activities and Sports Center of Ezeiza. The event was led by Lic. M. Rodríguez. FDORA provided supplies and an update of the original map of the grounds that our Federation had prepared.
Starting December 15, conversations with the authorities of various institutions to define the “2008 Agenda.”
