Leho Haldna from Estonia is the new IOF President

Leho Haldna from Estonia is the new IOF President

Leho Haldna has been elected as new President of the International Orienteering Federation at the General Assembly in Strömstad, Sweden. He mentions visibility and development as key points in his 2020 vision.
– We have to make our sport less complicated, for beginners, for tv audience and for IOF event organisers, Leho Haldna says.

Estonian Leho Haldna succeeds Brian Porteous, Great Britain, who is retiring. Leho Haldna has a long career within orienteering, both an administrative and a competitive career. He has been IOF Senior Vice President since 2012, IOF Vice President 2010-2012 and IOF Council member since 2002. Haldna has been taking part in WOC as competitor, with a fourth place in the relay 1989 as the best result. He has also been member of the Estonian Olympic Committee 1994-2008 and president of the Estonian Orienteering Federation 1993-2007.

– To spread and develop orienteering in the world is one main target for the IOF and my vision is 80 active members in 2020. We need to put special attention to the youth and among other things we should definitely keep on developing the already successful World Orienteering Day. Visibility is probably the most important area and TV should become a main distribution channel for IOF major events, Leho Haldna says.

He is also mentioning inclusion into the Olympic Games program.
– Foot Orienteering has a chance and ski orienteering has a realistic chance to be a part of the Olympic Games program, the new IOF President says.