The European Ski Orienteering Championships (ESOC) and World Masters Ski Orienteering Championships (WMSOC) were due to be held in Chepelare, Bulgaria from February 6 to 12.

But the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) has decided to cancel ESOC – which was also planned to be the first round of the Ski Orienteering World Cup 2021 – while work is set to take place to find another organiser for the WMSOC competitions.

In a statement on the IOF’s website, the federation put the cancellation down to "uncertainties regarding continued Government support" for the competition and the organisers’ "inability to prepare for and conduct the event due to current and expected restrictions set to combat the COVID-19 pandemic."

It is understood that Bulgaria has offered to re-schedule the event to the following year but the IOF Orienteering Commission is considering how this would fit into its calendar.

A recommendation is expected to be made to the IOF Council for a decision at its meeting on September 25.

Meanwhile, the Oceania Orienteering Championships (OOC) which was scheduled for January 9 to 17 2021 have also been cancelled due to the effects of COVID-19 in the region.

It is believed that discussions are ongoing between Orienteering New Zealand and Orienteering Australia regarding the organisation of OOC 2022.