China has been awarded the final event of the 2019 IOF World Cup season ©IOF

China will host an International Orienteering Federation (IOF) World Cup event for the first time after the country was awarded the final event of the 2019 series.

The competition will be held in and around Guangzhou city and the Guangdong Province in October 2019, with exact dates still to be finalised.

It will mark the first IOF World Cup ever to be held in the world's most populated country.

The agreement was signed by the worldwide governing body and the Orienteering Association of China.

"The programme is not finally defined yet, but it will certainly have a sprint focus," IOF chief executive Tom Hollowell said. 

China will host an IOF World Cup event for the first time in 2019 ©IOF
China will host an IOF World Cup event for the first time in 2019 ©IOF

"There will possibly be a middle distance race can be held if appropriate terrain can be found. 

"But most likely the programme will be the same as at the World Orienteering Championships 2020. 

"There is no shortage of good sprint venues in China."

The 2019 World Cup circuit is due to open in Helsinki from June 6 to 11.

The World Orienteering Championships in Norway from August 13 to 18 will constitute the second round of the World Cup.

The third leg is then scheduled to be held in Switzerland from September 26 to 29 before China hosts the final the following month.