Miriam Whittington chats with Mike Dowling [pictured in black centre stage at the July Meeting in Finland] about his involvement with the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) Council – the world governing body for orienteering.
Mike, how long have you been involved at this level as a sports administrator?
I’ve been on the IOF Council for 8 years. Leading into this I was on the IOF Foot O Commission for 4 years. And before that I was the Orienteering Australia (OA) High Performance Director for 6 years. During this time I also had a stint as the OT President.
Currently, you’re one of three Vice Presidents. Only two of the eleven Council members are not from Europe. Was it difficult to get elected?
OA feels it is important to have an active presence at the IOF level. Before my involvement Hugh Cameron (from Victoria) had been on the IOF Council for 23 years. Toward the end of his term OA implemented a succession plan hence my joining the Foot O Commission and then moving onto the IOF Council. It was all about getting me known by the other member nations because after OA nominated me, I did need to get elected which happened.
My current term as an IOF Vice President runs out in October this year. I’d like to stay on a bit longer to see initiatives I’ve been involved with come to fruition. In particular – I had a major role in the recent two year review of the IOF Competition Program. This has resulted in the current WOC format being split into two – between bush and urban events. From 2019 there will be a regular WOC (Middle, Relay, Long) and a separate Sprint WOC. Anyway – the numbers are looking good so I’m hopeful of a further term.
You’re famous for quirky Dad Jokes. Do your fellow members understand your very Australian sense of humour?
At my first ever IOF General Assembly I gave a speech. Afterwards the President of the Italian National Body stood up and said he didn’t understand anything I’d said. It was my Australian accent! We are now good friends despite the initial language barrier. I learnt to speak slowly. As for my jokes – after 8 years my fellow members are only just beginning to get some of them.
You were just in Latvia for WOC. Before that you were in Hungary for JWOC? For some young orienteers – it probably seems pretty exotic – jet setting about the world going to events. Is it one long junket?
I was at JWOC to cheer my daughter Zoe on in her last year as a junior. That was pure fun - a personal trip. But yes, I was also at WOC in Latvia - this trip was for the IOF Council. Most of the time I was there I was working but I did get to watch the Sprint Relay. I didn’t get any time to participate in any public events or go to any other races.
My role sounds exotic in that it involves going to Europe four or five times a year. I travel for the four annual meetings plus every second year there’s a General Assembly. But it’s not the same as holiday travel. It’s hard work. I mostly go for about 5 days – including the flights (cattle class) – so I only have 2 or 3 nights at destinations. One time I went to Finland for just one night. I flew in at 6 am – attended meetings – and flew out at midnight the next day. The one perk of these trips is I’m usually awake very early because of the time zone factor - so I do get to go for dawn walks around the cities I’m at.
Everything I do is voluntary but my travel and accommodation expenses are paid by the IOF and OA between them. All the meetings are in Europe because it’s cheaper to get the two non Europeans out of eleven there than rotate meetings at other destinations. I do have to take unpaid leave from my job as a teacher – usually about 3 days per trip - so I am out of pocket in attending. But I enjoy what I do.
What do you actually do?
It may surprise people to know the IOF Council is actually similar to being on the OA Board or for that matter the OT Board. Being a member of the IOF is not just about pontificating about strategic matters – it also involves having to do the actual work to implement things! There are only 4 paid office staff in total at the IOF.
I’ve already told you about the new WOC format - here are a few of the other things I’m currently doing:
- Leading a review on the World Ranking System
- Involved with a review of the four year Strategy and Activity Plan
- Involved in an analysis of the current fees paid by member nations
- Investigating commercialism in orienteering which has led to the live broadcasting many have enjoyed during WOC
I’m also a contact within Council for the Foot O Commission (oversees the rules for orienteering, allocation of events etc).
Back in the day you were an elite runner yourself. Did you ever go to WOC?
Not a runner! I never had raw athletic speed. But I was strong in rough and horrible terrain. To orienteer I relied on being very good technically. I raced in WOC in 1985. Australia was the host - on the complex granite map “Kooyoora” near Bendigo for the individual and gold mining terrain just south of Castlemaine for the relay.
In those days WOC was every second year and only included one individual event (known today as the Long) and one four person relay. I was only in the relay team but we did finish strongly in 8th!
I also ran in World Cup Races in 1986 and 1988. And the World University Championships in 1986. By about 1990 though I was finding it very difficult to afford travelling to the mainland to compete in national events which was necessary for national selection. There was no support. I found it very hard to stay motivated. At the same time I was finishing my teaching degree and starting work so I stopped training as an elite and transitioned to being a participant.
I can remember first meeting you back in 1987. We were in New Zealand for the annual ANZ Challenge. You were with your then “friend” Sue Hancock. And our team bus picked you both up from the side of the road on our way to an event. I was totally in awe of you two hitch hikers. Is travelling the best part of orienteering? Or the people? Or both?
Everything! Travel, People and the process of orienteering. The travel for events is interesting, going to out of the way places not usually visited by tourists. I’ve also made many friends. I’m still close to a Canadian mate I met back in 1981. And then of course I married Sue and our daughters Anna and Zoe orienteer as well.
For as long as I’ve known you – even when you were in 21s – you volunteered quite a bit – from mapping, organising events, club administration and coaching. Our sport relies on volunteering – does helping out make you better at orienteering and in what roles?
Yes! Course Setting! This makes you think about your own technique. All young orienteers should give this a go.
And Map Making! You don’t need to become an actual mapper but have a go. This will make you better at interpreting what a mapper is trying to depict.
Plus – volunteering in any role enables you to get to know people and make good friends.
I also volunteer because I find it rewarding. The 6 years I helped coach the Tasmanian Schools Team were really enjoyable. Plus – volunteering gives me a chance to give back to the sport I love.