First came a piece of lodestone floating on a piece of wood in a dish full of water, then the magnetised needle suspended on a piece of silk string. After that man had little trouble finding his way. The sport of orientation started in Scandinavia in the nineteen twenties, the military then made it part of their training. After a short period of time became a competitive sport. Then Kjellestrom brothers invented the term orienteering and the word and sport spread across the world.
Some people think that orienteering transformed from the Swedish military.
The first meet was held in Sweden by Major Ernst Killander. There where 220 participants, at that moment orienteering had become a national sport.