Eight-time Olympic champion Ole Einar Bjørndalen is set to retire following the conclusion of the IBU World Championships ©IBU

The Holmenkollen National Ski Arena in Oslo is ready to host the 51st International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Championships, an event set to mark the last major competition for eight-times Olympic gold medallist and home favourite Ole Einar Bjørndalen.

The 42-year-old, winner of  the 10 kilometres sprint and part of the mixed relay team at the 2014 Winter Olympics is Sochi, is expected to retire after the World Championships, which officially get underway on Thursday (March 3) following tomorrow's Opening Ceremony.

Bjørndalen recently caused controversy in Norway after he decided not to attend the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer to concentrate instead on preparing for the World Championships.

The Norwegian, one of his country’s most popular athletes, is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and he has controversially been given special permission by its President Thomas Bach to miss key meetings so he can prepare for these World Championships.

Bjørndalen had planned to retire following Sochi 2014 but subsequently decided to carry on with his career.

The veteran biathlete will be one of the names to watch during the flagship event on the biathlon calendar.

A total of 168 male and 156 female athletes from 35 countries are due to compete in 11 different events.

Holmenkollen has a long history of staging the IBU World Championships
Holmenkollen has a long history of staging the IBU World Championships ©Getty Images

The venue itself, a regular host of IBU World Cup competitions, has undergone extensive work for the event, including building more space for spectators, as well as technological improvements.

According to organisers, more than 100,000 tickets have been sold and they still hope a further 25,000 will be bought up in the lead-up to and during the event.

The Championships will be screened on Norwegian broadcaster NRK, who also recently covered the Winter Youth Olympic Games, with live coverage and highlights programmes.

Around 2,000 volunteers will help ensure the World Championships run smoothly.

They were chosen following a selection process conducted on social media, which lasted three months.

The official mascot for Oslo 2016 is a squirrel and is named “Blink” following a competition held by the Organising Committee.

Norway has previously hosted the World Championships on six occasions, with Holmenkollen awarded the competition in 1986 and 2000.

It also stepped in 1990 and 1999 after Minsk in Belarus and Kontiolahti in Finland withdrew. 

Elverum held the 1965 edition of the World Championships and Vingrom hosted the event in 1977.