Planica will host the best sprinters in the world and the event is also seen as a good opportunity for Slovenian cross-country skiers: sprint has been the event they have had the most success in lately.

Saturday is reserved for the men's and women's individual races, and Sunday for team events for both men and women competitors.

"In a season without Olympic Games or a world championship, the first goal of our national team will certainly be a successful showing at the home event at Planica," said Slovenian Ski Association (SZS) head Franci Petek.

He added that the participants would compete on the course that would also be used for the 2023 Nordic World Ski Championships, and that "this will be a true test for the major competition."

While there is some natural snow on the course, there is also enough artificial snow to serve the 1,300 metres of tracks for competition and a few hundred metres of tracks for warm-ups and testing of skis.

"This will be an important competition for us in the preparation for the 2023 world championships," added Primož Finžgar, the secretary general of the organising committee.

Simon Jan, the president of the cross-country skiing division at the SZS, said that "Planica will be the main goal of our season ... and this year's event will be important both for the current and future generations."