The Bulgarian Orienteering Federation has informed the IOF that they are unable to organise the European Ski Orienteering Championships (ESOC) and World Masters Ski Orienteering Championships (WMSOC) scheduled for February 6th – 12th 2021 in Chepelare, Bulgaria. ESOC was also the first round of the Ski Orienteering World Cup 2021.
The reasons are uncertainties regarding continued government support for the event, and the organisers inability to prepare for and conduct the event due to current and expected restrictions set to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The IOF has determined that ESOC 2021 and the World Cup round will be cancelled but is working to see if another organiser can be found for the WMSOC competitions.
Bulgaria has offered to re-schedule the planned event to 2022. The IOF Ski Orienteering Commission is evaluating how this would fit into the 2022 Ski Orienteering event calendar and will make a recommendation to the Council for a decision at its meeting September 25th.
In additional event news, Orienteering New Zealand has informed the IOF that the Oceania Orienteering Championships (OOC) scheduled for January 9th- 17th 2021 have been cancelled due to the effects of Covid-19 in the region. Discussions are ongoing between Orienteering New Zealand and Orienteering Australia regarding the organisation of OOC 2022.
