Competition Instructions

Competition Rules and Instructions

Rules of Finnish Orienteering Federation (FOF) apply together with instructions given by organizers. FOF rules for orienteering sports can be found in Finnish at www.suunnistusliitto.fi and competition info.

Competition Centre

The Kotka-Jukola competition centre is located in the area of the Kotka Motor Sports Centre and Kymi Airfield. Traffic from the south and north is directed to the competition centre via Road 357, Hurukselantie. On the event’s website and in the Jukola application, you can find instructions on how to arrive and the services available at the competition centre.

Terrain

The competition terrain is located in Kotka, in the area north and west of Kymi Airfield. The competition terrain is a continuous forest area that is crossed by several different driving tracks as well as a few large power lines. The terrain is mainly easy-to-walk, hard-bottomed rocky and heath forest, where visibility varies from very good to fairly limited thickets. However, the rocky slopes are rocky in places, and the bogs in the area have some high undergrowth. The terrain is mostly gentle, although there are also small rocky hills in the area. The greatest height differences are less than 40 metres. The competition terrain is used for forestry, and only the clearest forest machine tracks are marked on the map.

The Finnish Orienteering Championship relay in 1975 and the Fin-5 competitions in 1986 have previously been held in the area. Part of the area has been used for recreational orienteering in the 2000s. The old maps of the area can be seen on the information board of the competition info, the result board in the competition centre and on the Kotka-Jukola website.

The TV production structures in the terrain are not marked on the maps and the filming controls are not marked on the control descriptions. There may be TV cameramen running in the terrain with a camera. In addition, the competition can be filmed with TV production camera copters or a camera car.

Competition Map and Control Descriptions

Digiprinted competition map is in scale of 1:10 000, with a contour interval of 2,5 meters, description ISOM2017. Mapped by Janne Weckman. Map is enclosed in a plastic cover. Size of the map is A3 or bigger, depending the leg.

Control descriptions are printed on map. Control codes are also printed next to control numbers (check out the map of route markings, for example 2-48).

Model map

In the changeover area, the changes that have taken place in the terrain after the competition map was printed are presented as map excerpts. The changes are as follows:

Model Event

There are two model orienteering courses available in the immediate vicinity of the competition centre, about one kilometre from the Jukola gate. The price is 10€/piece when purchased in advance from the online store, no later than Sunday 7th June at 18.00. Maps can be picked up from the competition info from Friday 12th June at 10.00. Maps can also be purchased from the competition information during its opening hours for €12 each.

Training

The training maps available at the competition info are the Vehkovuori, Metsäkylä, Metsätalonkulma, Rapakivenjärvi training maps. The training terrains have a control flag and a code number at the controls. The mapping, course markings and control descriptions correspond to those used in the competition. Training maps will be sold at the competition info from Friday 12th June at 10:00 for 10 € each.

Out-of-Bounds / forbidden Areas

Out-of-bounds areas are marked on the competition map in track color. If there is a continuous line at the edge of the prohibited area, there is a continous stop tape of the Out-of-bounds area in the terrain. All private yards are also forbidden to enter. There are individual small forbidden areas in the terrain, such as nature sites, dangerous terrain sites and technical objects related to the implementation of the competition, which are marked in the terrain with a tape of a forbidden area. The areas are not marked on the map as a forbidden area.

The competition map is limited to Road 357 in the west, which is a forbidden route for competitors and may not be used during the competition. On the map, the road is marked with a map marker for a forbidden route.

Out-of-bounds / forbidden area tape.

Route markings

Course markings are in accordance with Finnish Orienteering Federation rules. Start and finish markings are enclosed by fences.

Controls and Punching

Emit punching is used in the competition. The controls are in accordance with the model controls. The model controls are located next to the competition info and the start entrance gate. There are no reflectors at the controls. The controls must be completed in numerical order. The control number and control code are printed on the map next to the control circle. Changeover and finish punching will be used in the competition.

There are checkpoints in the terrain close to each other. The competitor should check the correct control code on the map.

Emit punching system

Punching in the competition will be carried out with electronic Emit punching system. Each team must have at least four (4) Emit cards in Jukola relay and three (3) in Venla relay. Same Emit cards may not be used by two different teams in same relay or in two consecutive legs. However, same Emit card can be used in both the Jukola and the Venla Relays.

Team material includes a backup patch for each member of team. This must be attached to Emit card. On this backup patch, competitor must write letter V (for the Venla relay) or letter J (for the Jukola relay), your team number and your leg number. Backup patch should be attached to Emit card with a small piece of thin tape.

Your Emit card will be read in Emit-tent on your way to start / changeover area through MARS MARS entrance gate. You have to insert the card into an Emit reset unit, which clears card for your leg. After reset, Emit card cannot be changed. If your Emit card cannot be read at registration you will be given a rental Emit card (40 €) provided by the organizer. You are not allowed to compete with a broken / unread card. After finishing leg, you must return the organizer’s card to competition info, where you will be charged 40 € for using the card. Your own card will be given back to you.

Only competitor with competition number can access start / exchange area. Competitors cannot leave start / exchange zone after Emit reset. The Emit reset point is opened 75 minutes before start of the Venla / Jukola relay and is open during the relay.

Check-in happens in stages according to the competitor’s competition number:

Emit check-in and reset point will be closed 20 minutes before start signals for both Venla and Jukola relays and will be opened again straight after starts. Check-in and reset points will then be open through duration of the relays, until they will be closed 30 minutes after restarts.

You will be organized on the start straight following the announcer’s instructions. The formation begins 30 minutes before the stars and proceeds in stages.

The athletes of the largest team numbers will be the first to be arranged in the starting rows. The Venla relay starts at 13.00 and the Jukola relay at 22.30

Starting area will be closed 10 minutes before the start.

After finishing their leg, competitors will be guided to Emit-punching check-out where data of the card will be read. If there are any problems with punching data, competitor will be guided to Error checking point (Wailing Wall).

All rented cards must be returned to competition info, in same team bag where they were. Unreturned or lost cards will be charged at 80€ each. If a card is rented only for the Venla relay it must be returned to competition info immediately after the Venla relay is finished.

Make sure that you use a proper Emit card. Only original unopened electronic card is allowed in the relays.

Last-minute rental fee for Emit card is 40 € / piece. If you want to receive rented Emit cards with team material, you need to make a pre-booking via registration system by no later than 28th May.

There are Emit card testing units near competition info and Emit check-in area. To test your Emit card, place it onto Emit card testing unit which is provided with a LED light. LED will indicate that your card works by flashing. If card’s battery is run down or is about to run down light does not flash and you will need to rent a new card before checking in at the entrance gate.

Competitors are also advised to test their emit cards in model control points which are located next to competition info and entrance gate of check-in. Actual controls, changeover and finish, all have same kind of punching as model controls. For electronic punching to work properly, Emit card must be put onto control unit in the right way all way into the bottom. Because of its shape, Emit card fits to control unit one way only. When punching is done properly, backup patch in Emit card will be marked with a pin, in addition to electronic mark. This will prove your visit at control point in case of failure in the electronic system.

Starts

Start of both relays is located on a gravel field in competition centre.

Runners cannot leave their warm-up gear on the fence surrounding the start area.

Announcer and start officials will give instructions for lining up to start rows.

The grouping will start from the back rows no later than 30 minutes before the start. The smallest number in each row is placed on the left edge in relation to the running direction. Competitors can check their own start row from the sign on the chest of the map distributors and from the start staff. Entrance to the start area will be closed 10 minutes before the start. Late starters will get their maps after the start at Map-Help point, where maps are available for 30 minutes after the start.

The maps will be handed out to the competitors. When receiving a map from the start staff, the competitor must make sure that he or she has a map corresponding to number bib. It is competitor’s responsibility to check that map is the correct one. It is strictly forbidden to unfold map before start signal. Opening map too early will lead to disqualification of team.

The starting signal is given by the steamboat whistle. You are not allowed to move forward before the gun is fired. Teams that false-start or make others to false-start will be disqualified! Entire start procedure is recorded.

The start, changeover and finish markings are fenced. The K-point is marked with a control flag. There is no need to punch at the K-point.

The starting area is narrow and cramped. Be careful when starting!

Changeover

There are marked routes from last control to changeover / finish line. Incoming competitors will be split to separate lanes on basis of their leg numbers. Choose lane above which you see your leg number. NB! Numbering of lanes changes during the relay. Fastest teams of each leg will be guided to rightmost lane. There will be organizers guiding runners into correct lanes but especially when there are a lot of runners entering lanes at the same time, each runner needs to pay close attention to choosing the correct lane.

When coming to the changeover, the changeover punch is done with the finish punch. The changeover times and positions of the teams are obtained from the changeover punch. The changeover punching is monitored by a recording video system.

After the changeover punch, the competitors continue forward, hand over the map to the officials and turn towards the map stands. A map of the next leg corresponding to your own number is taken from the map stand.

Note! The map is taken from the map bag by lifting it upwards, any other way may break the map bag and make it difficult to keep the maps of the following sections in the bag.

The competitor takes the map to the orienteer of the next leg waiting at the changeover fence. At the changeover fence, the areas of the teams are indicated with numbers corresponding to the team numbers, where the map is given to the runner of the next leg over the fence. The competitor is responsible for taking the map for the next leg of their own team. The competitor waiting at the changeover fence must make sure that they have got the right team and the right leg map before going into the forest. Orienteering on the wrong map will result in disqualification.

Special situations in changeover

If the outgoing runner cannot be found at the changeover fence within a reasonable time, the outgoing map will be taken to Map Help, located at the end of the changeover fence, to wait for the outgoing runner. Competitors who have missed the changeover must report to Map Help after Emit check-in and Emit reset. The official will then give the competitor the map handed in by the runner of the previous leg.

If the map for the team’s next leg is not on the map stand, the incoming competitor must report this to the official at the map stand. The competitor and the official will then go together to Map Help, located at the end of the changeover fence. The Map Help official will give the competitor a spare map ticket, which the competitor must take to the next-leg runner at the changeover fence. The spare map ticket contains an image showing the location of the spare map point along the marked route to the start, as well as brief written instructions. The next-leg competitor will receive their map at the spare map point in exchange for the spare map ticket.

Changeover area

Only competitors wearing a bib number may enter the changeover area, and they must do so via Emit check-in and Emit reset. Competitors who have arrived at the changeover may leave the changeover area only via Emit check-out.

Competitors waiting for the changeover may warm up in the warm-up area located in connection with the changeover area. Competitors must not warm up on the route used by outgoing runners. A competitor who has already completed the changeover and is moving towards Emit check-out must give way to competitors carrying out the changeover.

There are online terminals in the changeover area where competitors can check at which control the team’s runner currently in the terrain last punched.

Incoming competitors can be seen from the warm-up area. Space must be left at the changeover fence for outgoing competitors.

There are toilets and a water point in the changeover area. A first aid point is located next to Map Help.

Closing of the Changeovers and Restart

Changeover area will be closed on Saturday, 13th June at 18:30. Runners who have not started by then will take part in mass restart. Mass restart for runners of legs 2–4 will take place at 18:45 from map stands. Runners participating in the restart will be required to register their Emit cards at entrance gate of check-in no later than 20 minutes before restart. After registration and reset of Emit cards runners will go to map stands about 5 minutes before the restart following instructions given by announcer and officials. False-starting teams will be disqualified. Finish line for the Venla relay will be closed at 22:30.

Changeover area will be closed on Sunday, 14th June at 9:15. Runners who have not started by then will take part in two separate restarts.

Restart for 7th leg will take place at 9:30. This group has to have gone through Emit card registration no later than 9:10. After registration and reset of Emit cards runners of the 7th leg will go to map stands about 5 minutes before restart following instructions given by announcer and officials. False-starting teams will be disqualified.

Runners of legs 2-6 have to have gone through Emit card registration no later than 9:25.

Restart for the legs 2-6 will take place at 9:45. During first restart of leg 7, runners of second restart will be guided to a waiting area to guarantee a safe start for runners of 7th leg. Runners of legs 2-6 will go to map stands about 5 minutes before restart following instructions given by announcer and officials. False-starting teams will be disqualified.

Finish line for the Jukola relay will be closed at 15:00 and removal of control points from competition terrain begins.

Finish

In both relays all last leg runners will run to rightmost lane following guidance. Positions of first 30 teams will be determined by finish judge based on crossing of finish line. Tight spurt situations will be double checked with a finish line camera. Finish line is marked with a painted line and a finish line sign. After crossing the finish line, anchors must be stamped immediately. After finish line punching, Emit cards of team in positions 1-30 will be read in finish area.

Other teams’ results will be based on punching immediately after finish line. Punching time is time when Emit card enters the punching unit. Finish punching is controlled by video recording. Anchors from teams other than 1-30 will follow signs along stalls to Emit checkpoint for card reading.

Error checking point (Wailing Wall)

Wailing Wall, located in the vicinity of entrance gate of Emit check-in and checkout point, is open for from Saturday, 13th June at 13:00 until Sunday, 14th June at 16:00. Wailing wall is place where disqualifications as well as other competition related issues are dealt with. If necessary, a team leader can be present when discussing possible disqualifications. Officials at Wailing Wall will give instructions about summoning team leader if needed.

Protests

Any reports of rule violations and protests will be submitted during the race and no later than 30 minutes after technical end of race to competition info. Protest shall be addressed to the Jury and shall be submitted in writing on paper only. Person lodging protest must leave his/her name and contact details.

Dropouts and Disqualified Teams

Teams that have dropped out or been disqualified may continue the relay-style race all the way to the finish. The team’s result will be shown on the result board as dropped out or disqualified. Competitors go through the changeover as normal. However, if a disqualified or dropped-out team is less than 45 minutes behind the leading team, the team’s relay will be delayed at the next changeover so that the gap to the leading team is at least 45 minutes. The map for the team’s next leg will be removed from the map stand and replaced with a yellow form marked with the team’s bib number and leg number. The incoming competitor takes the form from the map stand and brings it to the orienteer waiting at the changeover fence. That orienteer then goes with the form to Map Help. At Map Help, they will be given the map and permission to start once 45 minutes have passed since the leading team’s changeover.

A competitor who drops out must return from the terrain along the marked route to the finish and through the changeover area to Emit check-out. If the orienteer who has dropped out is unable to return via the changeover, the team leader or first aid personnel must report this to the Wailing Wall and at the same time return the team’s competition map. A team is classified as having dropped out if the competitor reports the dropout at Emit check-out. The dropout is recorded at the Wailing Wall, where the competitor is directed from Emit check-out. Competitors who drop out in the terrain due to injury must hand over their map to first aid personnel. These teams will also be listed on the notice board at Map Help. The next-leg map of a team whose runner has dropped out in the terrain can be collected from Map Help. The next-leg runner may continue the relay by collecting the map from Map Help.

Results

During competition, results will be available on results board, on Mikkeli-Jukola internet site http://www.jukola.com/2026 and in Jukola application which can be downloaded from the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android).

Drop-out and disqualified teams will be reported on results board and also by announcer in case of leading teams. Official results will be published on website after competition. All notifications about results during competition will be done in competition info. Notifications about results after event can be sent directly to Timo Kokko, .

Refreshment and First Aid Points

There are points for refreshment and first aid in competition terrain. They are marked with map symbols following specification for orienteering maps. At refreshment points you can find water in addition NOSHT sport drink. At refreshment areas there are also litter bins for mugs, gel packages and other litter. Litter does not belong to nature, and dropping litter to any place other than the refreshment area is strictly forbidden. If weather is really hot and you think that you might need a lot of time to get through your leg, it is advisable to take a drink belt with you.

Running order

Teams need to register their running order using the registration service at registration.jukola.com logging in by using Jukola account of admin holder of club/team. Running orders for both relays must be registered by no later than

Running order can also be given as non-public, in which case running order will be automatically made public

Late registration of running order will result in a 100€ fee/team. Fee must be paid when picking up team material. After deadlines, changes can only be made in exceptional cases. Changes will be approved by Technical Advisor of competition. If there is an urgent need to change running order after above mentioned deadlines, team has to contact competition info with reasons for change no later than thirty minutes (30) before start of the relay in question.

Person who has entered a team in the relay is responsible for giving correct information regarding team members as well as for ensuring that age limit is being followed properly. Only those born in 2011 or earlier can enter the competition. Running an underage participant will result in disqualification of team.

Team material

Team material can be collected at competition info between 10:00 – 21:00 on Friday 12th June and between 8:00 – 22:00 on Saturday 13th June. The team material will be handed over with the pick-up code in the Jukola application, provided that all fees have been paid and the running orders have been reported to the registration system.

Team material includes team’s number bibs and Emit backup patches as well as Emit cards rented from organizers and number bib vests for specifically nominated teams. Note that team material does not include safety pins for attaching number bibs. Safety pins are available for sale in the orienteering equipment stores of the competition centre.

Bib numbers

Bib numbers are based on results of Venla and Jukola relays in 2025. If a club has several teams, first team of club will wear the smallest of the club’s bib numbers. Bar code in bib number must be undamaged when entering start / changeover area. The base colour of the number bib for the anchor leg is light blue.

Bib number must be visible throughout the leg. Please attach number bib number must be carefully attached with four safety pins.

Teams selected to wear GPS tracking devices shall wear a number bib vest. Vest must not be covered during competition. Competitors of the selected teams must wear the vest until Emit checkout point under threat of disqualification. Vests will be distributed to teams with other competition material in advance. GPS tracking

A GPS tracking system will be used in both relays on all legs. Approximately 25 teams will carry the device on each leg of both relays. If team refuses to carry GPR device, team will be disqualified.

GPS device will be given to runner at a special GPS point after entrance gate of Emit check-in. Teams pre-selected for GPS tracking will be given numerical GPS vests with their team material. GPS device and number bib vest that has a pocket for GPS device must be worn at all times from moment person enters Emit check in until team has returned GPS device. GPS device has to be switch on at the latest 15 minutes before runner starts leg. During race, organizer may change teams that carry GPS devices. Teams selected for GPS tracking during race continue to use their normal bibs and they are given a GPS vest when they receive their GPS device.

Competitors’ Own GPS Devices and Phones

Competitors may only use personal GPS devices that do not have a map display. Devices that transmit live GPS data are strictly forbidden (apart from the organizers’ GPS devices). Recorded GPS data cannot be used in order to improve competitors’ performance in competition. Recorded route data can be uploaded to internet or other services only after restarts of Jukola relay have taken place (Sunday, 14th June 09:45).

Competitor may carry a personal mobile phone in case of emergencies. Phone must be switched off in changeover area as well as during competition itself, and it can only be used in emergencies. It is forbidden to distribute any material filmed during competition before technical end of competition.

Coaches

Coaches and team support personnel are not allowed to enter start, changeover and finish areas. All required assistance and support can be given from areas provided for the public.

Interviews and Photos

Competitors’ TV, radio and arena interviews take place immediately after changeover at interview points located near changeover fence. Other media can interview athletes after EMIT checkout or in media center. Media events are organized for both top teams of the relay according to separate instructions given to them as soon as possible after finish.

Insurances

Competitors are not insured by the organisers.

Prize giving ceremonies

Top 25 teams in the Jukola and Venla relays will be awarded medals and plaques. Honorary awards will also be given to best teams in both relays. Award ceremonies will take place on festival stage. The Venla relay ceremony will take place on Saturday, 13th June, starting at 19:00. Venla teams to be awarded will be asked to be seated next to the stage, in reserved places, by 18:50.

Jukola relay ceremony will take place on Sunday, 14th June, starting at 09:50. Jukola teams to be awarded will be asked to be seated next to the stage, in reserved places, by 09:40.

Teams to be awarded are not allowed to carry any advertising banners or other advertising materials. Club’s own banners and badges are permitted.

Message of the Jukola Relay

Following the tradition, the message of the Jukola relay will be read by the winning team in vicinity of finish line.

Returning of maps

Maps of both relays can be collected at competition info from 9:50 on Sunday, June 14th. Club’s first team’s material includes a coupon for return maps.

If return maps of all teams of club would like to be sent by post, a postal address and payment must be provided to competition info in advance.

Changes to competition instructions

Any changes to competition instructions will be published as appropriate. Competition instructions along with possible changes will be published on info board of competition info and on Kotka-Jukola website.

Competition officials

• Secretary general Pauli Mäkelä, +358 44 047 3955
• Communication manager Heidi Hamström +358 44 043 4344
• Chief of the competition Ari Kukkonen
• Course setter, Jukola relay Tuomas Mattila
• Course setter, Venla Relay Janne Niskanen
• Tulospalvelun johtaja Juhana Suurnäkki
• Technical advisor (TA) Teijo Oksanen +358 50 526 1024
• Finnish line judge Jussi Simula, Sotkamon Jymy

Jury

• Chairman of the Jury Juha Lerssi, Kaustisen Pohjan-Veikot
• Jury member Raimo Hannukainen, Kankaanpään Suunnistajat
• Jury member Astra Francke, Espoon Suunta

Life from the forest, welcome to Kotka!