As the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) approaches in Karlskrona in 2026, athletes from around the globe have already begun their preparations in Blekinge’s unique terrain. Over the past year, 12 national teams have visited the region for training camps, with three of them arriving most recently in October and November. In addition to these official visits, numerous clubs, schools, and smaller groups have taken advantage of the training opportunities offered throughout the year.

During the official training camp, approximately 160 participants gathered to experience the challenging courses. In total, an estimated 600–700 individual runners have purchased training packages and tested their skills in Blekinge’s forests and urban landscapes.

Feedback from athletes has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the technical difficulty and variety of the sessions. Both forest and sprint trainings have been popular, but the Torhamnslandet area stands out as the most utilized and appreciated terrain.

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”We saw quite amazing terrain here. Almost everything is different. The vegetation is different, the rock features. We don’t have these many rocks in Hungary, but also we don’t have marshes either”, says Yanka Mikes.

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Why train in Blekinge?

The answer is simple: relevant terrain and technical challenges. Spending time here allows athletes to familiarize themselves with the conditions they will face during JWOC 2026. Blekinge offers diverse landscapes and demanding navigation, making it an ideal setting for high-level preparation.

Next training camp

Looking ahead, the next official training camp will take place in March 2026, featuring six different training sessions and two competitions in Torhamnslandet. Beyond that, training packages will remain available all the way up to JWOC. For inquiries about training opportunities or map orders, please contact pontus.petersson@jwoc2026.se.

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