NEW COOPERATION IN THE REGION

Leaders from 8 SEE Countries in Belogradchik

Representatives from 8 countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, Moldova, and Macedonia) met in Bulgaria, Belogradchik , from 04th to 05th  September 2010., together with Helge Sogard (Denmark), President of IOF European Orienteering working group.
During these two days meeting sessions, some historical decision and actions were made which will bring new future for development of orienteering in the region of South East Europe.
Among the topics of the agenda SEEOWG outlined:
-Seven countries sign up for a new cooperation within South East Europe and decided to invite also other countries from the region to join in.
-South East European Orienteering Championships –SEEOC will start from 2011 (Macedonia, Krusevo, 07-11 September), and next one will be organize in Turkey 2012 (Bursa, 05-09 September). New SEEOC Rules will be issued soon according to the decisions at the meeting.
-Mr Helde Sogard, President of  European Working Group introduce their work in last two years, express gratitude for our work for the benefit of orienteering sport in the region of SEE and underlined possibilities for future cooperation, especially in terms of development actions and help. Huge potential could be available in near future.
This year Tatiana Kalenderoglu elected for a new member of EWG, so she will  be also good contact in our cooperation and person who is very well informed about actions in our region.
-Mr Sergio Grifoni, President of Italian Orienteering Federation, presented idea for Mediterranean cooperation and invite countries to join. Turkey, Serbia and Montenegro express their interest to join in, and of course some other Mediterranean countries.
-Montenegro for the first time took part with young team at last Balkan Championships in Bulgaria, and also made big progress in development orienteering within country (3 new maps in 2010 were produced, summer camp for beginners with more then 40 participants was held, and of course some events…)
-There are also some development progress in other new countries from the region (Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece) and we shall proceed with help to those countries.
-South East European Working Group (SEEOWG) establish calendar for 2011 where are not only events, but also development seminars (March 2011 in Montenegro: mapping and organizing small o-events), summer camps (August 2011 in Serbia: training for youngsters), where we expect participants from the new countries in the region. Help from experienced orienteering nations will be a crucial for further orienteering development in the region and conducting of such as activities.

The SEEOWG meeting was kindly hosted by the Bulgarian Orienteering Federation and municipality of Belogradchik as well as local orienteering club.