OK is planning to provide "live" coverage of the world's biggest O' relay competition -- Jukola. The coverage will be much like out coverage of Tio-Mila. We will provide updates on these discussion pages and will chat on-line with other fans (using Yahoo Messenger).

It is not too early to start planning you weekend. Jukola takes place this coming weekend (June 17/18). Here is what the schedule looks like (all times are Finnish Daylight Time -- I'm not certain, but I'd guess Kansas is 7 or 8 hours earlier....more details will follow).

The women's Venla race (a four person relay) begins on Saturday at 16:15 (which is around 8 or 9 a.m. Central daylight time). The finish will be around 19:30.

The men's Jukola race (a sever person relay) begins on Saturday at midnight in Finland (which will be around 4 or 5 p.m. in Kansas). The finish is expected to be around 8:27 on Sunday in Finland.

Currently there are 649 Venla teams and 1148 Jukola teams.

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), June 12, 2000

Answers

The time difference ought to be 8 hours, according to my clumsy figuring.

Whatever, hopefully it will be a fun race to follow over the internet. I know the organizers have some special new things planned to take advantage of some of today's technological marvels, but how well this will come over the web remains to be seen.

Hopefully IKHP will see a change in fortunes from Tio-Mila. Andreas Rangert is unfortunately still out of action due to the knee injury he suffered in Skene back in April, but otherwise the club looks to be at full strength, and should have good chances to place among the top teams.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), June 12, 2000.

Remind us all of how to connect via the messenger service (ie how to get connected).

Alas, I will miss the men's race as I'll have to continue my current pursuit of gainful employment.

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), June 12, 2000.

First, you need to have yahoo messenger loaded. Go to the messenger homepage and follow the directions.

http://messenger.yahoo.com/

Then, you need to add some friends -- people to chat with. For startes, add me (my yahoo ID is okansas.geo) and Mook (his yahoo ID is (mooook_2000). If a friend is on-line and running the messenger software, you can send them an instant message. If they are no on- line, you can send them a message anyway and they will get it when they next go on-line.

Before the Jukola weekend, you probably ought to test messenger by sending me a message.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), June 13, 2000.

I should add that even if you don't have messenger, you'll be able to follow the coverage on the OK discussion pages.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), June 14, 2000.

Another important web page for Jukola fans is:

http://www.uokh.f2s.com/juk/jukola.html

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), June 14, 2000.

o'news cosmos will arrange online service directly from Jukola in Finnish and IN POOR ENGLISH! You'll will also find pictures and MAPS (directly after men's relay...) Service will start at 2pm GMT on 17th June and url is: http://personal.inet.fi/urheilu/cosmos

Results directly from organizers computers should be available too in url: http://www.kalevanrasti.fi/jukola2000/kilp/

If you understand Swedish, you can listen the competition using Real Player, url to Finnish radiostation eXtreme is http://extrem- das.nedecon.fi/DAS/audio/live.rm

Have a nice weekend!

Heikki

p.s. You can find the map from 1982 Jukola (same terrain as this year), the course of 6th leg, route of Jyrki Saarivaara (Vaajakosken Terd 1st from 6th leg) and the starting point of this year's relay from url: http://personal.inet.fi/urheilu/cosmos/jukola82.html

-- Heikki Levonen (onewscosmos@hotmail.com), June 14, 2000.