The 2026 World Orienteering Championships in Genoa are just around the corner. With little more than two weeks remaining before the start of the championships, everything is set for the WOC Simulation Week, the final major test event ahead of the World Championships.
From June 22 to 26, more than 100 athletes representing many of the world's leading national teams will gather in Liguria for five days of training races designed to closely replicate the WOC competition programme. It will be a unique opportunity to test terrain, organisation, and race procedures under conditions as similar as possible to those that athletes will encounter during the World Championships.
All courses have been planned by Alessio Tenani and Marcello Lambertini, while Daniele Guardini will coordinate the IT team responsible for testing the entire technology infrastructure, including live GPS tracking, live results, radio controls, split times, and post-race analysis tools.
The week will begin on Monday with model events and training sessions in Arenzano and Nervi. Competition will get underway on Tuesday with the Sprint Qualification and Sprint Final between Celle Ligure and Boccadasse, on a completely new map that will be used for the very first time during this historic edition of the WOC Simulation Week.
On Wednesday morning, athletes will compete in the Knock-Out Sprint Qualification in Quarto dei Mille, also held on a brand-new map. The format will feature three qualification heats, with the top 12 athletes from each heat advancing to the final rounds. The decisive stages – quarter-finals, semi-finals and final – will then take place on Thursday afternoon in Masone.
The event will conclude on Friday with a spectacular Sprint Relay in Spotorno, providing one final test before attention turns fully to the World Championships.
The Simulation Week, an innovative concept that has been highly appreciated by national teams, will allow athletes to immerse themselves in the championship atmosphere just over a week before the start of WOC, bringing together many of the leading contenders for the world titles.
Meanwhile, several national teams are already training in the area, both individually and in organised camps, while many delegations will remain in Liguria throughout the period between the Simulation Week and the World Championships themselves.
Excitement continues to build as the countdown to Genoa 2026 enters its final stages. The WOC Simulation Week can be followed through the links below.
Useful Links
Bulletin 2 – WOC Simulation Week
https://woc2026.com/wp-
Live Results
https://app.liveresults.it/
Livelox (Maps and GPS Analysis)
https://www.livelox.com/?tab=
