Twenty-five countries are sending teams to the Russian Black Sea resort, to compete across seven sports.

These are Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, short track speed skating, ski mountaineering, sport climbing and ski orienteering.

Many of the same venues which were used at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games will be utilised.

Tomorrow will see a Torch Relay followed by the Opening Ceremony at the Ice Cube Multifunctional Sport Arena.

The first sporting action will also take place.

Competition will conclude with the Closing Ceremony and the final day of action on Monday (February 27).

The Sochi Winter Olympics are currently the subject of increased public interest after the second part of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commissioned McLaren Report alleged the presence of a Russian doping and sample manipulation scheme.

However, CISM chief executive Olivier Verhelle revealed to insidethegames last month that the Games, which feature members of the armed forces, would not be moved.

He said the decision was made as CISM is a non-political organisation.

"The event is still taking place as planned," he said.

"We clearly want to show how we are a non-political organisation and do not want to make a misguided signal."

Winter sport heavyweights like Canada, Norway and United States will be among the absentees in Sochi, despite all being CISM members.

The first Winter Games were held in Aosta in Italy in 2010, before a second three years later in the French resort of Annecy, where 1,000 athletes from 40 countries participated.

Tomorrow's Opening Ceremony will coincide with the "Defender of the Fatherland Day" holiday in Russia.