The official ceremony to launch the 2011 FIS World Ski Championships was held in Oslo on Wednesday evening.
This year's ski championships will be held in Homenkollen, a suburb of Oslo sometimes referred to as the "Mecca of skiing," where ski competitions were held since 1892.
The event in Holmenkollen will be the fifth ski championship for Norway, following those of 1930, 1966, 1982, and 1997. Organizers expect the event to attract record-breaking 300,000 spectators.
More than 600 athletes from 60 countries are to take part, including 27 Russians. The Russian team lists 24 cross-country skiers, five Nordic combined skiers and eight ski jumpers. For the first time ever, Russia sent a women's ski jumping team to such an event.
OSLO, February 24 (RIA Novosti)
