Pokljuka initially lost the bid to Tyumen in 2016, Russia, but the venue was cancelled in early 2017 as part of wide-reaching doping and corruption allegations against Russia, leaving Pokljuka as the only candidate.

The host of annual World Cup races, Pokljuka does not have to do much to get ready. The organisers have said only minimal interventions would be needed.

Borut Farčnik, the head of the preparatory committee, indicated that the decision reached today was particularly satisfying for the organisers, but he would not dwell on it.

"I won't comment as to why Pokljuka was not selected initially. We vied for the 2021 World Championship and now we have got it, we're not interested in anything else," he said.

An investigation against the former leadership of the IBU is ongoing, including against the former chairman Anders Besseberg, who denies any wrongdoing.

The Biathlon World Championships will be the third major winter sports event in Slovenia in the 2020s: Planica will host the 2020 the Ski Flying World Championships and the 2023 Nordic World Championships.

Slovenia's top biathlete, the Olympic medallist Jakov Fak, said the competition was great since the competitors get to appear before the home crowd, but it also meant a lot the sport in Slovenia in general.

"Each such event is an opportunity to improve the infrastructure and I would like infrastructure at Pokljuka to be even better," he said.