The competition was originally supposed to take place in the South Korean capital of Seoul, but had to be relocated to Montreal following "internal Korean Skating Union issues".

The KSU has been dealing with South Korean Olympic champion Shim Suk-hee's allegations of sexual assault against former short track speed skating coach Cho Jae-beom.

Cho is already currently serving a 10-month prison sentence for physical assault.

Prospects in short track will now compete at the Arena Maurice Richard in the Canadian city, with the ISU expressing its "sincere gratitude to Speed Skating Canada for its ability and availability to take over the hosting of this important ISU event on very short notice".

Included in the line-up are several skaters who have already made a name for themselves on the senior stage.

Canada's Courtney Lee Sarault finished second overall at last year's World Juniors in Warsaw, going on to win silver in the 1,500 metres race at the ISU World Cup Short Track event in Calgary.

Maame Biney of the United States will also be a contender in the women's competition, finishing third overall in Warsaw and achieving a number of top ten positions at World Cup events this season.

Japan's Kazuki Yoshinaga will be the favourite in the men's competition, having won silver in the 1,500m at the 2018 World Juniors.

The 19-year old then secured his first major title this season, achieving gold in the 1,500m at the World Cup in Calgary.

Overall winners in the past have gone on to become some of the biggest names in speed skating.

This includes Hungarian Olympic champion Shaoang Liu and China's Qu Chunyu.

Tomorrow will see the qualifying rounds of the men's and women's 500m and 1,000m, as well as the quarter-finals of the 1,500m and 3,000m relay.

On Saturday (January 26) the semi-finals and finals of the men and women's 1,500m and 500m will be held, as well as the semis of the 3,000m relay.

The finals of the 1,000m and the 3,000m relay will take place on January 27, the concluding day of competition.