Top performances are also expected of Slovenian athletes and organisers, who have won a tough battle against high temperatures in recent days, hope to see between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors.

The competitions will start off on Thursday at 2:30 PM with the women's sprint event, followed on Friday by the men's sprint and on the weekend by the pursuit and mass start races.

The main Slovenian hopes will be Teja Gregorin, an Olympic bronze medallist, and Jakov Fak, who is presently among the top three biathletes in the world.

A total of 135 male competitors and 125 female biathletes from 34 countries are expected at the Pokljuka plateau.

The state-of-the-art Pokljuka centre, renovated completely a few years ago, last hosted the World Cup last March, with the events attracting thousands of visitors.