O-Ringen 日本語サイト

The O-Ringen developed quickly after its inception in 1965, when there were 156 participants. By 1973, participation had exceeded the 10,000 mark. Ever since, with the exception of two years (1975 and 1977), O-Ringen has always amassed more than 10,000 competitors. The first half of the 80's saw record numbers.
In 1985, Dalarna had 23,000 participants. The O-Ringen village was built up at the national stadium for nordic skiing, Lugnet, in Falun. Nearly as many were in Småland 1983, when the O-Ringen village was accommodated on the motor racing track, Scandinavian Raceway, in Anderstorp.

By the time the 2003 O-Ringen took place in Bohuslän-Dalsland, the competition had been held in all the 23 orienteering districts of Sweden. One stage has even been held north of the polar circle, in Vuollerim to be precise, when Norrbotten organised the 1982 O-Ringen (the O-Ringen village was in Luleå).

Development of the event has advanced in a wide range of ways:
- Norrbotten 1982 was the first year with a club start draw, i.e. all the members of a single club have start times concentrated to a period of just over an hour.
- The organisers of Blekinge 1984 decided to place the starts for all the stages within walking distance of the O-Ringen village in Bräkne-Hoby. This concept was adopted again very successfully in Hälsingland 2006 and is a model which will be used more frequently over the coming years
- Dalarna 1985 introduced obligatory bussing to the stages, which meant that all the participants staying at the O-Ringen village left their cars parked there. Previously bussing to the stages had been an optional choice.
- Dalarna 1999 introduced electronic punching for all participants.
- Also notably in 1999, rail transport was used and platforms were specially constructed at all the race venues. No other organiser has had the possibility to offer this form of transport since.
- Internationally O-Ringen has, in general, attracted competitors from more nations than, for example, the World Championships. As early as the second year it was organised, the 1966 O-Ringen had seven nations represented among the 700 participants.
- The O-Ringen has also broken many international barriers.
When four Soviet Union men competed in 1981, this was the first time runners from that nation had raced abroad.

For the elite, O-Ringen has always been one of the most prestigious races. The list of winners over the years is dominated by the legendary Ulla Lindkvist, with eight wins, and Annichen Kringstad, with five. On the men's side Lars "Onion" Lönnkvist has four victories, closely followed by Jörgen Mårtensson with three.

World Championship title holders abound the list of winners, both Swedish runners and the major international stars, with the 21st century's dominant runner, Simone Niggli, at the head of the list.

The O-Ringen had World Cup status for the first time in Gästrikland 1998. This was also the first time the World Cup included a multiday race. In 2007, the World Cup will return to the O-Ringen, which means that all the world's elite orienteers will be on the start line.