Competition in the Norwegian host of the 1994 Winter Olympics and Paralympics was due to take place between February 7 and 20.

It is now hoped the event will be held on to be confirmed dates in January 2022 after it was moved as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

This means there will only be a short gap between the end of the event and the start of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics on March 4.

The new event is due to join together the Para World Championships for Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing and snowboard for the first time.

Meetings were held between the Norwegian Ski Association, World Para Snow Sports and the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee before it was decided to postpone.

The Norwegian Biathlon Federation and the Norwegian Board Sports Federation were also involved in the decision.

"We were looking forward to the Championships in Lillehammer next year, but we fully support the decision to postpone it to January 2022," said World Para Snow Sports managing director Christian Holtz. 

"While this was not the news we were hoping to share with our sport community, we will always put the health and well-being of athletes and all those involved in the competitions as our priority. 

"All World Para Snow Sports Championships partners have done a fantastic job and we will now keep on working together with them to deliver our most important event to date."

The event in 2022 will keep the name "Lillehammer 2021" with 750 athletes and 30 countries expected to compete.

That would make it the biggest Para-sport event in Norway since the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Paralympics.

Every sponsor and partner, including the VI Foundation and Norwegian broadcaster NRK, are said to be extending their involvement.

"We know how much the event means to many and we understand well the disappointment of having to wait a whole year, but the Championships' scope, duration and complexity cannot be accommodated under the current situation of the pandemic nationally and internationally," said Erik Roste, President of the Norwegian Ski Association.

"The risk of spreading infection among volunteers, competitors and in the local community does not make it justifiable to carry out the competition as planned."

Ola Keul, director of the Lillehammer 2021 Organising Committee, added: "Although the sporting performance of Para-athletes is unique, Para-sports have not always been given the great attention that the athletes really deserve. 

"The enthusiasm we now experience around the athletes and the Word Championships we will build on every day until 2022 - and for many years to come."