What is the IOF?
The International Orienteering Federation is the sport's world governing body — founded in 1961, headquartered in Finland, with around 80 member federations across foot, mountain bike, ski and trail orienteering.[1] [2]
What does it govern?
The rules and mapping standards — orienteering maps are themselves an IOF specification — plus the World Championships and World Cup in each discipline, world rankings, and the sport's place at the World Games.[2] [3]
References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Orienteering (governance). Accessed August 2026.
- IOF — official site. Accessed August 2026.
- IWGA — orienteering at the World Games. Accessed August 2026.