Mazet announced that he would be leaving the French set-up after eight years in April, despite helping to guide his country to one of the most successful men's seasons in history.

This was down in no small part to double Olympic champion Martin Fourcade, who won four gold medals at the IBU World Championships in Oslo in February.

Fourcade, who worked closely with Mazet and won two Olympic titles at Sochi 2014, also won the World Cup during 2015-16, becoming the first biathlete to claim the prize five times in a row.

Mazet said he wanted to have the experience of working abroad.

"Martin was disappointed but he understood my decision," he said.

"It was a bit strange to leave the national team after our most successful World Championship in years.

"But I have never hidden the fact that I wanted to work abroad.

"I really wanted this experience."

Mazet will be assisted in Norway by Egil Kristiansen, who is switching sports to direct physical training. 

He was previously involved with Norway's women's cross-country skiing team, coaching them to 47 Olympic and World Championship medals in 10 years.

"I realise that there is a difference in cross-country and biathlon," he said.

"It is not just skiing.

"I will have to make some adjustments."

Norway's Johannes Thingnes Bø came second in last season's World Cup behind Fourcade, with the country also winning four golds on home snow at the Worlds in Oslo.

Their most famous biathlete is 42-year-old Ole Einar Bjørndalen, the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time with 13 medals.

His haul includes eight golds and he could add to that after deciding to delay retirement until the Pyeongchang 2018 Games.

He resigned as a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athlete Commission in order to carry on competing.