It will be the third World Cup event of the season, with Winterberg and Sigulda hosting the previous two stops. 

The challenging track at Altenberg features 17 curves and drops a total of 122 metres from start to finish.

It has hosted several IBSF World and European Championships since it was built in 1987 and is set to host the IBSF World Championships again in 2020. 

Forty-five skeleton athletes from 17 countries have registered to participate, with 55 teams from 14 countries registered to take part in the bobsleigh event.

Among them are the current leaders of the overall IBSF World Cup rankings. 

Russia's Elena Nikitina and compatriot Alexander Tretiakov lead in the overall rankings of the women and men's skeleton events, both with 417 points. 

Germany's Olympic champion Mariama Jamanka leads in the two woman bobsleigh with 435 points, while her compatriot and Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich is first in both the two and four man bobsleigh with 450 and 435 points respectively. 

The athletes have been participating in training sessions at the venue today.

Tomorrow will see the women's and men's skeleton runs, with the two-woman and two-man bobsleigh events taking place on January 5.

The four man bobsleigh will then conclude the event on January 6.