Between 12 to 16 July, three Scottish athletes will proudly pull on their Great Britain vests as they represent their country at the Sprint World Orienteering Championships.
Brother and sister Peter and Grace Molloy from Linlithgow, and Freddie Carcas from Edinburgh will form the 10-athlete-counting "team GB". Together, they'll take part in five days racing in the Scottish capital.
Orienteering is often thought of as a countryside sport. But these championships will be staged in the intricate urban terrain Edinburgh has to offer. The capital’s iconic landmarks will provide the perfect backdrop for the elite courses.
The event is yet another opportunity for the public to watch elite sport in the capital of Scotland for free.
Fans will be able to see the world’s best orienteering athletes tackle challenging routes that weave past the city’s historical and cultural attractions.
Salisbury Crags overlooking Edinburgh (credit: VisitScotland / Kenny Lam)
Great Britain finished second in the medal table at the last Sprint World Orienteering Championships in Denmark in 2022. This time, the host nation will be looking to go one better and top the table.
Grace Molloy from Linlithgow is in contention for one of the top places.
I'm excited to race in a city as iconic as Edinburgh, especially as it is 30 minutes from my home, and I'm looking forward to truly challenging the best athletes in the world.
This is the first World Orienteering Championship where I’ve had the speed to match the top women and I’m hoping to achieve top 10 positions in the individual races and a medal in the relay.
The five-day orienteering festival features amateur races for all ages and levels. Competitors as young as 10 and some in their 80s will take part.
The World Orienteering Championships tour will allow competitors to experience the best of urban orienteering. This includes those relatively new to the sport up to experienced recreational athletes.
Discover how you can take part on woc2024.org.
The first elite races will be the "individual sprint" taking place in Leith on the morning of Friday 12 July. Finals in the afternoon will finish in the Princes Street Gardens.
The action continues on Sunday 14 July at Heriot Watt University with the "team sprint relay".
On Tuesday 16 July the "knockout sprint qualifications take place in Wester Hailes, with the finals finishing on St John Street in central Edinburgh.
Find out more about the championships on woc2024.org.
The championships will be broadcast on Eurovision Sport, the European Broadcasting Union's new free streaming platform, and on the YouTube channel of the International Orienteering Federation.
Grace Molloy competing in an orienteering event (credit: World Orienteering Championships)
There are free family activities are on offer throughout the week, including orienteering mazes, fun races, and all the action on live screens.
The orienteering maze and big screen will feature in the Princes Street Gardens on Friday 12 July. This will be followed by fun races for kids and adults alike at The Meadows.
There will be another orienteering maze, from Saturday 13 July until Monday 15 July.