Currently scheduled from January 4 to 17 next year, this decision was made by the Winter Sports Promotion Association (WSRO) after consultation with local health authorities and officials from the German Free State of Thuringia.

Members of the WSRO - including WSRO-SkiSport managing director Thomas Grellmann - released a statement explaining their decision.

"This is a decision of reason and not of the heart," it said.

"The development of the infection process forces us to take this step. 

"With a view to the health of the audience but also out of responsibility to our many volunteer helpers and supporters, holding the competitions without an audience is the only feasible way. 

"The purchase price can be refunded for the tickets purchased so far."

More details of this procedure are due to be published on the IBU World Cup website from December 1.

"We are now focusing on creating optimal competition conditions for the athletes and presenting the Oberhof World Cup location with the highest level of professionalism," the statement continued. 

"A good two years before the 2023 World Championships and despite ongoing renovation work, we have the chance to show the sporting world that we are able to organise top international sports events even under difficult conditions."

This is a further setback for organisers of the IBU World Cup after Oberhof recently had to add a second World Cup event to its calendar, replacing Ruhpolding, also in Germany.

The first of these two World Cup legs is scheduled from January 4 to 10, with the second due to take place from January 11 to 17.

Antholz-Anterselva, also in Germany, is set to follow Oberhof from January 18 to 24.

The IBU revealed it had relocated the Ruhpolding event to Oberhof as the latter German venue is due to host the 2023 World Championships and "would benefit from maximum opportunities to test and enhance its hosting capacity".