Victorians on the International Stage This Week in Four World Level Competitions

So much is happening this week on the world stage!

The Junior World Championships is underway in Aguiar da Beira in Portugal. Unfortunately, due to a ban on all forest activities due to wildfires/heatwaves, the championships will be going ahead with a reduced program. The Sprint will still take place today, an additional Sprint Relay will be held on Wednesday and an unofficial single-gender urban relay on Friday, with hopes to still hold a forest race on Saturday (when the ban on forest activity is due to end).  Jensen Key will be taking part in the individual Sprint and the Sprint Relays.  You can follow the races live here,

Also this week (July 15-18) is The World Games, a major championships for non-olympic sports, which will be held in Birmingham Alabama this year. Australia is being represented by a team completely made up of Victorians: Aislinn Prendergast, Aston Key, Mason Arthur and Milla Key.  The event consists of a sprint this Friday, a middle distance on Saturday and a sprint relay on Sunday. All events can be followed with a live broadcast and GPS tracking through the IOF Live Centre.

The World Mountain Bike Champs are also set to get under way this weekend in Sweden, and Ricky Thackray will be riding for Australia, competing in Sprint, Middle, Long, and Mass Start events.  The three concluding races will take place in Falun, while the two opening distances will be held in the neighbouring municipality of Säter with its historic silver mines. In Säter’s forests the competitors will enjoy fast orienteering on sandy paths through moderately hilly terrain, while Falun’s forests will challenge them with steeper and rockier paths.  Follow the action here.

Finally the World Masters Orienteering Championships are already underway in Puglia, Italy, and also in soaring temperatures.  This competition consists of a Sprint Qualifier and Final, and a Long Distance Qualifier and Final.  Victorians at WMOC are Sue Key, Blair Trewin, and Rob Simmons.  You can check their progress here.