Costa Rica has been approved as a provisional member of the International Orienteering Federation ©IOF

Costa Rica has been approved as a provisional member of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).

The decision was confirmed at an IOF Council meeting held in Østfold in Norway.

It brings the number of IOF members up to 75 with the Central American nation represented by the Costa Rican Federation of Orienteering Sports.

According to the IOF, orienteering is on the rise in the country.

A Champions Cup competition was launched last year and Costa Ricans earned podium finishes at the 2016 and 2018 Central American and Caribbean Championships.

The sport was also added to the country's National Sports Games this year, which features athletes aged between 13 and 23.

"The number of athletes participating in orienteering and the number of available orienteering maps has increased significantly since 2011 when work started in developing orienteering in Costa Rica," the IOF said. 

"The final important step towards IOF membership was taken this year when the recognition of the Ministry of Sport and Recreation was achieved."