Eight-time Olympic champion Bjørndalen was elected onto the IOC Athletes' Commission during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, after which he was planning to retire from the sport.

The 42-year-old then decided to press on for two more seasons before bowing out at his home World Championships in Oslo, a decision that means he has played virtually no role as an IOC member in the intervening years,

He was given special dispensation by IOC President Thomas Bach to prioritise his training for the last year, on the condition he focuses on his IOC responsibilities thereafter.

Yet, after winning 4x7.5 kilometres relay gold medal in Oslo in addition to two individual silvers and a bronze, he postponed his retirement for the time being, vowing to use the off season to decide whether he wishes to press on until what would be a sixth Winter Olympic Games at Pyeongchang 2018.

"I'll begin considering post-season," he said, as reported by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.

"The motivation must be there and the health must be there."

Various other members of the IOC Athletes' Commission have remained active participants despite continuing their elite sporting commitments.

Judging by the recent past, if Bjørndalen does continue competing, he is unlikely to play a serious IOC role, however.

He missed the Extraordinary IOC Session in Monte Carlo in December 2014, the Candidate City Briefing on the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic race in Lausanne in June 2015 and the following month's IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur where Beijing beat Almaty by four votes to host the Games.

He has done little within the Athletes' Commission and also stood down from his only other IOC role, on the Press Commission, in 2015.

This has led to criticism from IOC colleagues, who claim if you are not prepared to contribute you should not be a member.

Section 3.4 of the IOC Charter stipulates: "Any IOC member shall cease to be a member without any further declaration on his part if, subject to force majeure, such member fails to attend Sessions or to take any active part in the work of the IOC for two consecutive years."

The IOC announced ahead of the Session in Kuala Lumpur, however, that Bjørndalen had been given special dispensation to be excused from IOC activities until after he had finished competing.

Bach leaped to Bjorndalen's defence when asked about him during the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, which he also skipped in order to altitude train in the Alps ahead of the World Championships.

"There is no dissatisfaction linked to this," Bach said.

"He said that he wanted to end a successful career with the World Championships in Oslo in March.

"As a former athlete I understand this. 

"After the World Championships he will spend all his time on the membership of IOC Athletes' Commission.

"I'm sure Ole Einar will contribute in a great way within the IOC."

If Bjørndalen does change his mind, however, it will be difficult for him to remain in his position. 

Czech Republic javelin thrower Jan Zelezny resigned as a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission in 2001 because he wanted to concentrate on training and was replaced by Britain's Sir Matthew Pinsent.

Australian swimmer Susie O'Neill also stepped down in 2005 because she wanted to spend more time with her family. 

Considered among the greatest Winter Olympians in history, Bjørndalen is a 20-time world and eight-time Olympic champion.

With 13, he has already won more medals than any other Winter Olympian and is tied on a record haul of eight gold medals with cross country skiing compatriot Bjørn Dæhlie.

He is considered a key means by which to reinvigorate Norwegian interest in the Olympic Movement and to potentially spearhead a possible Lillehammer bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.