Instructions for WOC Tour Day 4
Arriving arena
The Day 4 event arena of WOC Tour takes place at a baseball field in the Neulamäki district of Kuopio. Those arriving by car should park at Kuopio Hall (Opistotie 4), where parking costs €12 per vehicle and must be paid via the EasyPark app using area code 3871. From Kuopio Hall, a continuous shuttle bus service operates to Juontotie 9, which is only 150 meters from the arena. The ride takes around 10 minutes, starting at 8:00 in the morning. Between 8:00 and 12:00, seven buses will be in circulation, and from noon until 16:00, six buses will continue the loop. The final return bus departs Neulamäki at 16:00.
Public transport (lines 4 and 8) also reach the vicinity of the arena, and schedules can be found on Vilkku’s website. Cyclists will find convenient access too, with bike parking beside the tennis court at the arena and the nearest city bike station located at Neulamäki shopping center.
Services in the arena
At the arena, participants and visitors are greeted with services including an info (open from 8:00 to 15:00), toilets, a restaurant and café (open from 10:30 to 18:00), the official WOC shop, the Suunnistajan Kauppa (Orienteer’s store), and stalls selling licorice and ice cream. Water refill stations are positioned at the arena, as well as near the starting areas and at the finish line.
Since the arena is on an open field with limited shade, attendees are advised to bring sun protection such as hats and sunscreen. Please note that tents and parasols are not allowed on site, and everyone is encouraged to keep the area tidy by using proper waste bins. Shower facilities are not available at the arena, but public beaches at Särkilahti, Rauhalahti, and Niuva offer swimming options.
One important detail to note is that the finish line is not at the arena itself, but at a remote location. Additional information about this setup is provided below.
First Aid
First aid services are stationed both at the remote finish and at Neulamäki School (entrance F). Transportation from the finish to the school can be arranged if necessary, and those in need of assistance can call +35841 3659635.
Starts
The race starts at 10:00. Participants will walk to their designated starting areas along clearly marked paths with blue ribbons and signs. Elevation along the route should be taken into account when planning arrival times, as no transportation to starts is provided on Friday. The start distances range from 1000 to 2350 meters depending on the class.
Open class participants have a pre-start checkpoint located near the arena, along the marked path. Emit slips and control descriptions are distributed at the start, where drinking water is also available.
Finish
At the finish line, participants will undergo control validation. A marked path, partly shared with the route to the start, guides everyone back to the arena. The walk is approximately one kilometer. The remote finish closes at 15:00, and water and toilets are available on-site.
Results and prizes
Results from both competitive and open classes will be posted on the WOC Tour event website. Winners of random draw prizes for open classes and the Family-RR category will also be announced online, with prize pickup available from the Info during opening hours.
Open classes
For those joining open classes orienteering, participation rights can be purchased at the arena’s Info, where emit cards are also available for rent. Open classes starts are open from 10:00 to 13:00, and there are eight courses to choose from, including one suitable for families. More details can be found online. It’s also fine to participate with a friend. Race numbers should be attached using your own safety pins. Family-RR starts from Start 4, and other Open classes routes begin at Start 5. Participants must follow the marked paths to these starts.
Open classes runners must check in at the pre-start before heading into the forest. This checkpoint logs participants electronically. Everyone joining these classes needs to be checked in by 13:00 at the latest.
