During the final battles of the Second World War, the slopes above the western town of Cerkno were the site of an extraordinary event, a skiing competition held in the heart of occupied Europe. Eighty years on, the race will be remembered with a series of cultural, sporting, and commemorative events.

Taking on a grander scale than usual, the annual Partisan Ski Slopes '45 competition honours the original 1945 skiing event, which took place on 20 and 21 January. At the time, Cerkno was a liberated enclave, yet surrounded by German forces.

The defiant gathering brought together 44 Partisan resistance movement members from across Slovenia, cheered on by about 1,000 spectators, including representatives from American, British, and Russian military missions.

The race was seen as far more than a sporting event, it became a symbol of defiance, freedom, and Slovenian patriotism.

"We view it as the first Partisan Olympics, an event unparalleled in the world. Its significance transcends Slovenia, resonating internationally, as acknowledged by foreign military representatives," says Miha Butara, chairman of the organising committee.

The event conveys a message of Slovenian resilience and the importance of peace, both then and now.

Its origins go back to 1944, when the Partisans, mostly a guerrilla force, developed innovative combat techniques using skis.

A skiing unit within the XXXI Division was formed and equipped through a workshop established in Cerkno, which later evolved into Elan, the internationally renowned sports equipment maker which still operates in Begunje na Gorenjskem in the northwest of Slovenia today.

Home to a small but popular ski resort, the municipality of Cerkno has increased funding for this year's programme. Events have already begun and will take place in Cerkno, Idrija, Begunje, and Poljče until May.

On 23 January, a skiing competition for primary schools will be held in Cerkno, followed by the Partisan Ski Slopes '45 competition on 24 January, featuring veterans, patriotic organisations, and members of the Slovenian Armed Forces.

Other events include museum evenings, a conference on wartime skiing hosted by NATO's Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence in Poljče, NW, and the opening of a thematic trail, Along the Tracks of Partisan Skiing, in April.

The Idrija City Museum is planning a travelling exhibition, while the national postal company Pošta Slovenije will issue a commemorative stamp on 9 May as part of its Peace series.