The competition will also act as a crucial event for teams building towards Pyeongchang 2018, with some nations also seeking to build their confidence before the final Olympic qualifier in December.

Sweden claimed their 10th gold medal in the men’s event last year and their skip Niklas Edin will hope to guide them toward a third straight title.

They will compete in the men’s A-Division in Switzerland, where they will be joined by Austria, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia and the host nation.

Sweden, Norway and Britain have already secured places at next year’s Olympic Games, while the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands and Russia will contest next month’s final qualifier.

Several of the nations will prepare for the event by taking part in the men’s B-Division, with Belgium, England, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Latvia and Spain contesting Group A.

The Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey, and Wales will take part in Group B.

Russia will head into the women’s event with ambitions to claim gold for the third straight year.

World silver medallist Anna Sidorova, who led the team to success in 2015, will return as the team’s skip.

She will hope to guide her squad to success against the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Turkey in the women’s A-Division.

Belarus, England, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Spain will contest the B-Division.

The top eight ranked nations from the men’s and women’s events will qualify for the 2018 World Championships.

In a best of three series, the winners of the B-Division will challenge the eighth ranked teams in the A-Division.

The victor will secure the final places at the World Championships.

The Women’s Curling Championship will take place between March 17 and 25 in North Bay, Canada, a month on from the Winter Olympics.

Las Vegas will host the Men’s Curling Championships from March 31 to April 8.