Competitive action was set to begin on what is the second leg of the Ski Jumping World Cup season and the first for Nordic combined, but neither were able to go ahead.

Instead ski jumping qualifying will now take place at 9am tomorrow morning local time, while it is not yet clear when the Nordic combined action will be rearranged for.

Also due to start this weekend at the same venue is the new Cross Country World Cup season.

It will be the 11^th year in succession that Ruka has hosted the opening event.

A few weeks ago, a lack of snow and mild temperatures meant there was concern the event may not go ahead.

Organisers have been forced to use artificial snow to make up for the lack of snowfall in the region.

Out to defend his title once again in the sprint category will be the youngest overall World Cup winner of all time, Johannes Hosflot Klaebo from Norway.

The 22-year-old has won the overall sprint World Cup for the past two seasons in succession and will become the first man in history to win three times in a row if he triumphs again this year.

On the women’s side, Stina Nilsson from Sweden returns to Ruka as the defending sprint champion.

She finished the overall World Cup season last year in second place behind Maiken Caspersen Falla of Norway.

On the distance circuit, Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov will look to start this season as he ended the last – with a win.

He ended last year’s season with victory in the 15 kilometre classic.

Another Norwegian in Heidi Weng will look to start her campaign for a third successive women's World Cup title with victory in Ruka.