St. Moritz, a two-time Winter Olympic Games host city, pulled out of the race in order to allow Altenberg, who were bidding for the third year in a row, to stage the event.

Their decision was described as a "great show of sportsmanship" by IBSF President Ivo Ferriani.

The Swiss resort didn't leave empty handed, however, as it was given the hosting rights for the 2017 Para World Championships.

The IBSF had caused confusion earlier today after their official Twitter account posted a Tweet confirming that the German town would host their flagship event in four years' time despite the vote having not actually taken place.

The Tweet was subsequently deleted.

Altenberg, located close to Germany’s border with the Czech Republic, last staged the IBSF World Championships in 2008.

It has previously hosted bobsleigh competitions at the 1991 Championships, as well as skeleton three years later.

The town then held men’s skeleton events at the 1999 edition and men’s bobsleigh in 2000.

The track due to be used for the competition was first opened 29 years ago and is the youngest of Germany's four bobsleigh and skeleton tracks.

Germany also hosted this year's World Championships as they were staged in Winterberg, while 2014 Winter Olympics host city Sochi will be the venue for the 2017 edition.

The European nation were also handed the Push World Championships will be Oberhof in Germany.

St. Moritz will become only the second hosts of the IBSF Para World Championships following the inaugural edition, staged this year in Park City in Utah.

The Para versions of bobsleigh and skeleton are growing in popularity as part of a drive from the IBSF to raise the prominence of the sport.

The worldwide governing body told insidethegames in October that they would bid for a place on the Paralympic Games programme for Beijing 2022.

The confirmation of the hosts of the 2017 Para World Championships and 2020 World Championships was made at the Congress, which began with an opening address by IBSF President Ivo Ferriani, who is set to become a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the Session in Rio de Janeiro.

The 56-year-old Italian was recommended for membership of sport's most exclusive club by the IOC Executive Board during its latest meeting in Lausanne earlier this month.

Other items on the agenda for the Congress include an update concerning the progress of construction at the Alpensia Sliding Centre, the venue for bobsleigh and skeleton at Pyeongchang 2018.