Elite Sprint Information

Friday, 13 February — Praia de Mira

The first stage of POM 2026 will be the Elite Sprint, the first Sprint of a Portugal “O” Meeting to count for the World Ranking Event (WRE) and also the first-ever event to hold IOF GOLD WRE status.

The organisers goal is to bring hundreds of spectators to Praia de Mira to watch the world’s best Elite athletes competing in the WRE Sprint — hence the name Elite Sprint.

All athletes from the remaining classes are invited to watch the Elite Sprint, either in the Arena or along the competition area.

The athletes entered in the Elite classes will start first. Approximately 20 minutes after the last Elite athlete finishes, the prize-giving ceremony for the Elite Sprint will take place.

The remaining classes will compete afterwards, using the same start and the same arena.

Schedule

• Opening of the babysitting service (at the Event Centre – Museu dos Palheiros de Mira): 10h30
• Quarantine opening (Elite athletes): 10h30
• Quarantine closing: 11h00
• First Elite start: 11h30
• Last Elite start: 14h00
• Elite prize-giving ceremony: 14h30
• First start for remaining classes: 15h00
• Start window for Open and Beginner classes: 15h45 to 16h45
• Finish closed: 18h00

Quarantine

• Only Elite athletes taking part in the Sprint WRE will have a quarantine, located inside the Municipal Campsite.
• Entry to the quarantine (Coordinates): 40.4452, -8.8022
• In accordance with IOF rules, the use of mobile phones or any electronic devices that allow communication with the outside is strictly forbidden inside the quarantine.
• The organisers will transport bags from the quarantine to the Arena. The organisation cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to personal belongings.
• A covered area (tent) and toilets will be available inside the quarantine.
• Athletes are welcome to use the Campsite’s Restaurant and Bar – Tabuinhas in Park Club.
• During the quarantine entry process, all athletes will be provided with a warm-up map.
  On this map, starting from inside the Campsite, the locations of the toilets, the tent, the start, the bag drop, and the bar will be clearly marked.

Parking

• During the Elite Sprint, the circulation of vehicles belonging to Portugal “O” Meeting participants is strictly forbidden within the urban area of Praia de Mira.
• All event participants must park their vehicles at the following location: 40.4460, -8.8045
  • Distance between the parking area and the Arena: 1.2 km
  • Distance between the parking area and the Event Centre: 800 metres
  • Distance between the Event Centre and the Arena: 400 metres
  • Distance between the parking area and the Quarantine: 250 metres
• Access to the parking area must be made from the south of Praia de Mira, skirting the Barrinha, following the route shown in the map.

Elite Sprint WRE Arena

• Arena location: 40.4554, -8.8009
• At the Arena you will find the event speaker, an arena passage for the W Elite and M Elite 1 classes, the prize-giving ceremony (W Elite and M Elite 1 classes), first aid and toilets.
• The Event Office and Babysitting will operate at the Museu dos Palheiros de Mira (less than 500 metres from the Arena): 40.4516, -8.8017
• There are plenty of services around the Arena, including restaurants, cafés and bakeries/pastry shops.

• Map – Praia de Mira
• Mapmaker- Rafael Miguel (november 2014) Updated in november 2025
• Contours – 2,5m
• Map Scale – 1:4000 or 1:3000
• Symbol Set & Specifications – Map drawn according to the International Specification for Sprint Orienteering Maps 2019-2 of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).
• Terrain – Area characterised by numerous narrow and irregular streets and alleyways. In wet conditions, the ground becomes extremely slippery in several places, especially on wooden surfaces (boardwalks, bridges) and on ceramic pavements, which are very common in the competition area.
• WARNING: Due to the urban layout of the competition area, with many very narrow streets, there is a high risk of collisions between participants.
  Competitors are advised to stay alert during the race.

• Artificial barriers:

  • Where present, artificial barriers will be marked with the symbol “708 Out-of-bounds boundary”. In areas where space allows, the symbol “709 Out-of-Bounds area” may also be used to draw attention.Artificial barriers that do not block roads or streets will be marked only as “Uncrossable wall” (515) or “Uncrossable fence or railing” (518).

  • On the ground, athletes will find white and red tape marking these barriers.

• Other situations where marking tape will be used

  • For relatively low uncrossable walls or in private areas where the boundary is difficult to discern, the organisers will use red and white marking tape to help athletes understand that they may not pass through these locations.

• Disqualifications: According to the rules, if an athlete crosses an obstacle that is mapped with a symbol indicating prohibited crossing, they will be disqualified.

Courses

• Course Setters – Rafael Miguel, Daniel Silva e André Pedrosa
• Estimated winning time: 12 to 15 minutes
• Course split into two parts: All classes running with the 1:4000 scale map will have their course split into two parts. Both parts will be printed on the same side of the sheet, with Part 1 on the left and Part 2 on the right.
• Sheet size: A4+ landscape for courses at 1:4000 scale / A4+ portrait for courses at 1:3000 scale.