Fixcontrol takes over Swiss-O-Finder

Swiss Orienteering has opted for a solution outside the association structures for the future of the Swiss-O-Finder. The company Fixcontrol GmbH will take over the operation of the popular sports product at the beginning of 2025.

Over the past two years, Swiss Orienteering has conducted intensive investigations into a future solution for the Swiss-O-Finder (SOF) popular sports program. Among other things, a comprehensive relaunch was examined and a corresponding project tender was issued - also in connection with funds promised by the federal government as part of a federal revitalization programme.

Last May, the Board of Directors decided that a relaunch of the SOF was not appropriate. This was primarily in recognition of the fact that the success of such a new product would depend on a great deal of voluntary support from members and would have to meet a significant need. In the current social environment, with increasing pressure on voluntary work and ever more extensive tasks in the association, the Board does not consider the conditions to be right.

Even if it has no future within the association structures, it is important to Swiss Orienteering that this popular orienteering sport can be maintained. This is also a tribute to the many years of valuable development work. Fortunately, Fixcontrol, the previous technical partner of the Swiss-O-Finder, has agreed to take over the existing locations that are interested in continuing.

Fixcontrol will integrate the SOF locations into its FixFinder product line. The legal and technical product handover will take place on January 1, 2025. From this date, the locations will no longer be available as SOF via the www.swiss-o-finder.ch homepage, but as FixFinder locations via https://fixfinder.ch/. The conversion on site, such as the replacement of logos on existing badges or boarding signs, should be completed by the end of February 2025.

Fixcontrol is pleased to be able to continue the offer: "The good preparatory work on the part of the association facilitates integration into our existing infrastructure," says Beat Schilbach, Chairman of the Fixcontrol Management Board. "The sites as well as Fixcontrol will benefit from each other and the entire range of services can be maintained and expanded."

Christopher Gmür, Managing Director and Head of Popular Sports at Swiss Orienteering, is pleased that there is a future for the SOF. "It was important to us that orienteering grassroots sport initiatives are maintained wherever possible, that the local communities can continue to run the events they value and that there is no reduction in the number of events on offer. We are grateful that with Fixcontrol we have been able to evaluate a suitable partner for a pragmatic and popular sports-friendly solution."

December 2024