Action at the tournament, due to run from December 5 to 10, will be held at the Winter Arena Košutka.

Eight men’s and eight women’s teams are set to compete in Pilsen, with the nations who finish in the top two securing their spot at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

The two successful countries in both competitions will join the seven nations who book their place via the 2016 and 2017 World Championships qualification points system, as well as the host nation, at the Games.

The Women’s World Championships is scheduled to be held in Beijing, the host city of the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, from March 18 to 26.

Edmonton in Canada is due to stage the men’s event from April 1 to 9.

Teams that have not earned enough points, but have competed at the 2014, 2015, 2016 or 2017 World Championships, will make up the field for the Olympic qualification event in the Czech Republic.

“I’m delighted to confirm that we will be taking our Olympic qualification event to Pilsen in the Czech Republic, where I am in no doubt that the Czech Curling Association will host a first class event in December,” WCF President Kate Caithness said.

“There is so much at stake in this Olympic qualification event where every participating team will be trying to achieve their Olympic dream.”

The event will mark the third major curling competition to come to the Czech Republic after the country hosted the 2011 World Wheelchair Curling Championship and the European Curling Championship two years earlier.

“We are extremely honoured to have been awarded the Olympic Qualification Event and we are happy to be able to promote our sport in the Czech Republic and within the curling community, since it will be the first time we will organise an international curling event outside of Prague,” Czech Curling Association David Sik said.

“We are looking forward to seeing all the participants and fans from around the world.

“We will try to do everything to make their stay memorable, even though not of all of them will fulfil their curling ambitions.”

Curling at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will include four medal disciplines – mixed doubles, which is making its debut, women’s teams, men’s teams and wheelchair teams.

The Gangneung Curling Centre will stage action in the sport at the Games, which run from February 9 to 25.