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First national orienteering gymkhana kicks off in Sichuan

By Huang Zhiling and Liu Yuanyou (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-13 18:55

The First National Orienteering Gymkhana kicked off in Hongya county in Sichuan province on Saturday.

Athletes representing the People's Liberation Army of China are in the opening ceremony of the firt national orienteering gymkhana on Saturday. [chinadaily.com.cn/Liu Yuanyou]

The event, which will end on August 31, is organized by the State Sport General Administration, the Orienteering Association of China and the Hongyan county government.

It is aimed at popularizing orienteering in China, said Li Deli, president of the Orienteering Association of China.

Holding maps and compasses, participants of orienteering will try to reach destinations on maps by foot or bicycle, boat, ski, block, wheelchair and car as quickly as possible, he said.

Forty-one teams with 198 athletes from different provinces will participate in the gymkhana crossing mountains, lakes, fields, ancient towns, valleys and forests in Hongya.

Hongya, which abounds in beautiful natural scenery and sights of historical importance, will hold its second heatstroke prevention festival during the gymkhana, said Fu Kang, deputy mayor of Meishan which has Hongya under its administration.

With an average annual temperature of less than 17 degrees Centigrade, Hongya will host beer and food festival, mountainside camping and visit to forests.