About us

WHY TRAILO?

To foster ORIENT’s equal opportunities objective, partners organise TrailO activities, as an inclusive educational tool able to engage disable and able-bodies in the same event, with the same possibilities to win.

TrailO, or trail orienteering, is one of the four disciplines related to the sport of orienteering (running, mountain biking, skiing). It is a discipline that not necessarily entail reaching control points located on the competition ground, but aims at identifying them, using a map and a compass, at duly indicated observation points along easily accessible paths. From each observation point, one or more lanterns are visible, and competitors must decide which one corresponds to the control point shown on their map.

With its activities and competitions, TrailO has exceptional potential and countless benefits. It improves social interaction ability of all people, and thus enhances participants’ wellbeing, confidence, and social life.

As competitions take place outdoor, not only TrailO improves health, but also allows athletes, both pros and amateurs, to express their physical, psychic, social, cognitive sides, with a great return for mental health.

In the outdoor, able and disable people practising trail orienteering explore new adventures, boost their fantasy, engage in creative experiences and social life. TrailO’s adventure clears the game from the excessive search of individual performance and encourages cooperation.

TrailO is also formative: allows developing the perception of space, as well as observation, coordination, concentration, choice, cooperation, understanding of limits, autonomy and independent attitude.

CONSORTIUM

The composition of the partnership is strategic to reach multiple targets and to let TrailO’s benefits well known all across Europe. Along with the lead partner (Fiso, Italy), there are other two national federations of orienteering (ČSOS in Czechia and LOF in Latvia), two Third Sector associations (Trinijove Foundation in Spain and Progetti Sociali in Italy), a sports club (Trzin Orienteering Club in Slovenia), and a Local Authority (Vasto municipality, in Italy).

MISSION

In three years (2020-2022), ORIENT partners will develop tools to facilitate the organisation of TrailO grassroots events involving able and disabled athletes. They will participate in trail orienteering events and seminars across Europe, along with transnational partners who will share their organisational and operational expertise.

The project activities entail:

1. A collection of best practices, at the local level, in partner countries to design TrailO competitions open to both non-disabled and disabled athletes. This analysis will identify characteristics of the described approaches, the specific skills that coaches and operators who work with trail orienteering athletes need to have to train athletes and organise competitions.
2. The development of an operative model for the realisation of TrailO interventions starting from tests realised on partners’ territories. This model will be based on the characteristics of identified best practices and will be used to test operatively open orienteering competitions in partners’ areas. This analysis will lead to the piloting of small training activities for coaches, instructors and technicians.
3. The creation of a network of organisations dealing with orienteering and of practitioners from the sports sector, from school, services to disadvantaged people. The network will cope with the organisation of trail orienteering activities in partners’ territories even after the completion of the project. At the end of the project activities, thanks to the involvement of National Federations, partners will ask the validation of all the tools developed (e.g. practical, ICT, guides) by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF). Such recognition is aimed to facilitate the organisation of TrailO events in all EU countries and also outside Europe.