The wind comes from Dinghai, running towards the peak of the world. The highly anticipated 2025 World Ranking Event kicked off on December 6th at Sanmao Culture Village in Dinghai District, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province. The event was organized by the International Orienteering Federation, with the Aeronautics, Radio, Orienteering and Model Sports Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Radio Sports and Orienteering Association, the People's Government of Dinghai District, Zhoushan, and Zhoushan Bureau of Culture, Radio, Tourism, and Sports as co-organizers. Support was provided by Zhejiang Administration of Sports and Zhoushan Municipal People's Government, with assistance from Zhoushan Dinghai Bureau of Culture, Radio, Tourism, and Sports and Zhoushan Dinghai Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd. This event, representing the highest level of global orienteering, has been held for three consecutive years in Dinghai, a millennium-old ancient city on the shores of the East China Sea. World orienteering elite athletes gathered here with professional orienteering athletes from various domestic provinces and cities to unfold a peak duel of intelligence and physical strength on tracks where ancient villages and modern streets intertwine.
The World Ranking Event stands as one of the premier series in orienteering, attracting top-level international athletes. The two-day competition schedule of this event featured short-distance events, divided into Elite and Open categories. It attracted international elite orienteering athletes from 19 countries and regions including Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, Norway, Finland, Ukraine, Brazil, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong (China), as well as professional orienteering athletes from 25 domestic provinces and municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Fujian, Guangdong, Henan, Hebei, etc. This built a global participation pattern spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America, fully demonstrating Dinghai's attraction and openness as a "Highland of International Orienteering Events" and holding significant meaning for promoting the vigorous development of orienteering globally.
It is reported that the course design of this competition is hailed as one of the "Best Venues in Asia" due to its extremely high technicality, rich diversity, and deep integration with Dinghai's "Most Beautiful Mountains and Seas, Quintessential Cultural Context." Contestants were required to make independent route choices in the shortest possible time using only a precise map and a compass amidst the rapidly changing ancient villages and islands, traversing complex terrains ranging from streets to fields, and from dense mountain forests to coastal hills.
After intense competition, Yannick Michiels from Belgium secured the championship in the Men's Elite category. Daniel Vandas from the Czech Republic claimed the second position, and Jonas Hubacek from the Czech Republic earned the third spot.
In the Women's Elite category, Jana Peterova from the Czech Republic clinched the title. Lone Karin Brochmann from Norway secured the second position, and Oleksandra Parkhomen from Ukraine earned the third position.
The core section of the first competition day was specially set in the culturally rich Sanmao Culture Village, Miaoqiao Village, Dinghai. This is the location of the ancestral home of the famous writer Sanmao, carrying deep cultural nostalgia. When world-class athletes sped along the bluestone paths of the harmonious and beautiful village, shuttling between the simple and quality characteristic dwellings, they were not only completing a race but also engaging in a cultural dialogue spanning time and space.
From the Sanmao Ancestral Home Exhibition Hall to the Miaosui Memorial Hall, from the Xinyi Space Cultural and Creative Product Market to the Sanmao Painting and Calligraphy Academy, the sound of the contestants' running footsteps awakened the sleeping ancient stone walls. Amidst their rapid breathing, one could seemingly hear the wandering and nostalgia penned by Sanmao. The profound historical heritage and unique village layout of Sanmao Culture Village injected a unique poetic soul into this high-intensity sports competition, allowing global contestants to deeply feel the distant charm of Chinese culture and the tranquil grace of the island countryside while racing.
The route of this ranking event was like a pearl necklace, stringing together the fruitful results of the "Marine City" construction in Dinghai District. From the artistic atmosphere of Sanmao Culture Village to the modern agricultural landscapes of surrounding villages, and then to the vibrant coastal leisure belt, contestants and spectators jointly witnessed a model of a modern marine city that is ecologically livable and where industries thrive and people live in harmony.
A person in charge from the Zhoushan Dinghai Bureau of Culture, Radio, Tourism, and Sports stated: "We are very proud to provide an extraordinary competitive stage for the world's top athletes for three consecutive years. Dinghai's unique geographical landscape and cultural history challenged their limits and also shocked their souls. This is not just a competition, but a successful international cultural exchange, demonstrating to the global sports community the Chinese wisdom of sports empowering the countryside and culture illuminating events."
The successful hosting of the 2025 Dinghai Foot Orienteering World Ranking Event in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, has greatly enhanced the influence of this top international event in Asia. Using sports as a window, it allowed the beautiful island villages in Dinghai, Zhoushan and profound Sanmao culture to leap onto the global stage alongside the footprints and stories of the world's elite athletes. It composed a colorful movement of the integrated development of sports, culture, and tourism, injecting lasting power for Dinghai to build an international event brand, improve the city's image, promote industrial upgrading, and drive common prosperity, realizing the multiple values of "Sports sets the stage, economy performs, and culture adds vibrancy."
