The Gymnasiade is set to feature 800 student athletes from more than 25 countries, competing across eight sports.

Competition is due to take place from February 11 to 19 in Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, ice hockey, figure skating, ski orienteering and snowboarding.

The ISF is overseeing preparations in partnership with the Turkish School Sport Federation, with the event set to be based at the ski centre in Erzurum.

The centre is being turned into a sports village for the event, and will host all sporting competitions, with athletes set to be housed in on-site accommodation.

Alongside the sporting competition, the Winter Gymnasiade will also feature an educational programme for participating students.

Clinics, seminars and the ISF Fun and Skills Zone are all due to feature as part of the educational offering.

A new feature for the event will be the ISF’s young reporter programme, allowing the chance to receive training from experts, and then put the skills learned into practice in a real-life event setting.

An ISF delegation visited Erzurum in October to inspect preparations for the event, and said the Organising Committee was doing a good job in the preparation of venues and safety measures.

Founded in 1972, the ISF aims to provide sporting and educational opportunities for as many students as possible around the world, and since 1995 it has been recognised by the International Olympic Committee.