The event, due to begin tomorrow following today's Opening Ceremony, will be held on a 22-metre ice tower. 

Athletes will contest lead and speed events in three age categories - under-22, under-19 and under-16. 

Qualification for all the events is set to take place tomorrow with the finals being held on Saturday (March 2). 

Several athletes who tasted success at last year’s event in Malbun in Liechtenstein return this year. 

Russia's Valeriia Bogdan took the women's under-19 speed gold medal in 2018 and will now be aiming to claim the under-22 title. 

Switzerland's Sina Goetz, meanwhile, secured the women's under-22 lead crown in Malbun and will also be back again. 

As for Louna Ladevant of France, he will be looking to build on his victory in the men's under-19 lead event last year and will compete in the under-22 category this time around. 

Among the registered athletes are some stars from this year's UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup season - two-time gold medallist Yannick Glatthard of Switzerland and Russia's Anton Sukharev, who achieved three podium finishes in the speed event. 

The event is organised by the Climbing Club of Oulu.

Following the conclusion of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Youth Championships, the final leg of the four-event European Cup season is due to be held in Oulu on Sunday (March 3). 

The European Cup tour has already seen events held in Switzerland, Slovenia and Slovakia during November and December 2018.