The European nation is hosting the Games for a second time having also done so in 1993 when they were staged outside the United States for the first time.

A total of nine disciplines will be contested across the 12 days of action, including Alpine skiing, figure skating, floorball, floor hockey, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, speed skating and stick shooting.

The Convention Center Graz will play host to floorball, floor hockey and stick shooting, while the Icestadium Graz-Liebenau will stage figure skating and speed skating.

Alpine skiing and snowboarding will take place at Rohrmoos-Untertal, with Nordic skiing and snowshoeing to be held in Ramsau am Dachstein.

The Opening Ceremony, which is scheduled for Saturday (March 18) despite the action getting underway tomorrow, is due to be hosted by the Planai-Stadion in Schladming.

The Stadium Graz-Liebenau has been chosen to stage the Closing Ceremony on March 24.

This year’s marks the 11^th edition of the Special Olympics World Winter Games, which were last held in South Korean county Pyeongchang - hosts of the next year’s Winter Olympic Games - in 2013.

"Special Olympics Healthy Athletes", described as largest public health programme for people with intellectual disabilities worldwide, will run alongside the event.

The next edition of the Special Olympics World Summer Games is due to take place in United Arab Emirates’ capital Abu Dhabi in 2019.