This international event will bring enthusiasts of all ages from five continents to the municipalities of Pinzolo and Tre Ville. This will be the third edition of the Young Leaders Academy.
From 5 to 12 July, two thousand people, aged 5 to 84 and representing 44 nations and five continents, will arrive in the Brenta Dolomites to enjoy an unforgettable tourist experience in close contact with the area, exploring its scenic beauty in a unique way: running with a map and compass.
Now in its seventh edition, the international orienteering race event 5 Days returns for the third time to Madonna di Campiglio, organised by the eponymous sports club thanks to the collaboration of Trentino Marketing and APT Madonna di Campiglio, with the support of the municipalities of Pinzolo and Tre Ville.
THE RACE PROGRAMME
The five stages will start on 7 July with the Middle Distance at Pradalago – Campo Carlo Magno (11 a.m.). The course will take the orienteers through a pine forest with compact terrain. There will be areas that are rich in detail and areas that are more general. The slopes will tend to be gentle, with a few steep passages. On 8 July, the Middle Distance at Fortini – Campo Carlo Magno (11 a.m.) will feature an alpine pine forest where areas of good walkability and ground vegetation alternate with a constant gradient.
On 9 July, the Long Distance will take place on Cima Grostè – Rifugio Boch (11 a.m.). It will return to this location on 11 July for the Middle Distance (11 a.m.). The high-altitude alpine terrain, consisting mainly of open areas with a few scattered trees, offers good visibility and practicability, although it is uneven in many places. The grand finale will be the Sprint in Pinzolo on 12 July (10 a.m.), where the route will wind through the old town centre, passing through urban streets, green spaces, and parks. From 5 July, participants can warm up with the Model Events: free training sessions in Pradalago, Spinale and Val Nambrone. There will also be a Sprint Prologue in Madonna di Campiglio on 6 July at 5 p.m., followed by the opening evening of the event.
THE NUMBERS OF THE SEVENTH EDITION
More than 46% of entrants are from Sweden, Switzerland and Norway, with a significant proportion also coming from the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Finland – these countries together account for over 20% of entrants. After Europe, the most represented continent is Oceania (3%), with runners from Australia and New Zealand. This is followed by America (2.2%), with orienteers from the USA, Canada, Colombia and Ecuador; Asia (1%), with participants from Israel, Japan, Turkey, Kazakhstan and China; and finally Africa (0.5%), with competitors from Algeria and South Africa. Switzerland’s O-92 Piano di Magadino and Dreamteam Belgium have the largest teams with 32 members each. The most loyal participants are the masters: men aged 45–60 and women aged 45–55, as well as a large group in the W18 category.
“Despite the overlap with the World Championships in Finland,” comments Mauro Gazzerro, President of 5 Days Italy, “we confirmed and exceeded the participation numbers. This is because, thanks to the quality of its tourist and sporting offerings, 5 Days Italy has established itself as the unmissable Italian event for the international orienteering community over the past 7 years, attracting everyone from Yannick Michiels, who is 3rd in the Sprint world ranking, to young amateur orienteers looking to kick off the summer by meeting up, having fun with map and compass, and sharing their passion in beautiful locations“.
YOUNG ORIENTEERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
For the third consecutive year, the Young Leaders Academy has also been confirmed. This project has been entrusted to 5 Days Italy by the International Orienteering Federation and will see 30 athletes in the 16–25 age bracket specialise in the organisation and management of major events. The Academy aims to enhance the talent and skills of future generations to promote the development of orienteering, as well as providing an opportunity to network internationally.
Additionally, with the support of the organising sports club, 30 young Ukrainians will participate in the stages to continue practising the discipline and experience the wellbeing benefits of sport. The Clube de Orientação e Aventura do Litoral Alentejano will also be coming from Portugal through an Erasmus project.