2013

Mammadaba Orienteering Day opened by World Orienteering Champion Edgars Bertuks and Latvia's most active schools

On May 23 the Latvian Orienteering Federation and JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) organized the Mammadaba Orienteering Day to promote active recreation in nature, during which orienteering activities were held in 25 locations throughout Latvia. The event was opened by World Orienteering Champion Edgars Bertuks, who, accompanied by 100 pupils, participated in an orienteering competition in Mežaparks.

There were no restrictions on participants, and both young and old were able to take part in orienteering activities alongside the world champion. Everyone was welcome to try out orienteering, including families with children advised by orienteering instructors. On May 23, orienteering events were held in Rīga, Valmiera, Madona, Baldone, Saldus, Smiltene, Ikšķile, Garkalne, Sigulda and other cities and towns.

Madona State Gymnasium, Saulkrasti Secondary School, Kuldīga Secondary School No. 2 and Grundzāle Primary School pupils, who triumphed in the Mammadaba Adventure – a special orienteering competition – met in Mežaparks. These schools were also awarded a special LVM prize – an orienteering area in their vicinity.

“Support for orienteering is important for LVM to promote healthy lifestyle and a connection with nature among young people,” explains LVM Communications Department head Tomass Kotovičs. “Increasingly more children spend their time in front of computers and in stores, forgetting that people depend on nature, and Latvia on its green resources – forests. Humans are part of nature and we will become environmentally-friendly only by being aware of this.”

On the afternoon of May 23, World Orienteering Champion Edgars Bertuks also participated in an orienteering event in Tērvete Nature Park, on a special orienteering track created by LVM this year – the Mammadaba Adventure. There, participants not only needed quick feet, but also quick thinking, since there were questions about forest management at each control point. On the same day, similar tracks, tested by various schools in the 2012/2013 school year, were made available to the general public in other Mammadaba recreational areas - “Ezernieki” and “Spāre” tourism centres, as well as the Vijciems Cone Drying Facility.

Latvian Orienteering Federation representative Mārtiņš Vimba reminds that orienteering is the most democratic sport in the world. “We are all orienteering in our everyday lives – when we make our way to work or choose the most suitable public transport. However, in contrast to orienteering, there is no one to track our time and compare it with others. Therefore, those who have not experienced orienteering as a wonderful physical activity are particularly invited to participate in Mammadaba orienteering events,” added Vimba.

Information prepared by: Līga Zute-Abizāre, LVM Communications Department. Phone: 67805432, e-pasts: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Additional information: Mārtiņš Līsmanis, Latvijas Orienteering Federation. Phone: 26752100.