Gusts of up to 50 miles per hour at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre forced the postponement.

The wind conditions meant it was impossible for the gondala to transport the skiers up to the top of the course safely.

There was also the risk the skiers could be blown off the course.

Pyeongchang 2018 and the International Ski Federation has confirmed the men's super-G has been pushed back one day to Friday (February 16) to accommodate the move of the downhill.

A training run in the Alpine combined downhill, initially scheduled for tomorrow, has also been cancelled as a result of the unfavourable forecast.

"It's imperative with fair conditions and I applaud the decision," Norway's Kjetil Jansrud, among the favourites for the gold medal, wrote on Twitter.

"The message we got is that they want to do the downhill from the top in fair conditions. 

"I‘m thankful to hear that because that’s the way it should be in the Olympics. 

"We do have reserve days and if the gondola’s not going to run we have a major problem."

The men's downhill is the traditional curtain-raiser for the Alpine skiing programme at the Winter Olympics.

It is expected to be a fiercely-contested race, with Jansrud, his team-mate Aksel Lund Svindal and world champion Beat Feuz of Switzerland set to battle it out for the title.

The women's giant slalom is now due to be the first Alpine gold medal awarded at Pyeongchang 2018 tomorrow.