The final decision was made at a meeting of the organisers - the Finnish Orienteering Federation - and the International Orienteering Federation’s (IOF) senior event adviser.

It followed a meeting between organisers and the local regional health authority, which advised that, due to the unpredictability of the pandemic situation and the current restrictions in place in the region, the event could not proceed as planned.

According to an IOF release, "the decision also means that there will be no Ski Orienteering World Cup for year 2021."

Organisers reiterated to the IOF their full motivation now to focus on the planning of the World Ski Orienteering Championships in 2022.

Meanwhile the organisers of the 2021 World Ski Orienteering Championships in Estonia are still on track for holding the event from February 22 to 28.

There is continued strong support from the authorities in Estonia and the organisers are working closely with the Estonian Health Board to make sure that the event can be held safely in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The release added: "The full focus of the IOF is now on providing our Ski Orienteering athletes this opportunity for international competition in 2021 and will monitor and support the safe organisation of the championships in cooperation with the organisers."