Forty athletes, a dozen of them women, will compete in the bouldering and difficulty disciplines, which are official World Winter Games events, on a brand new structure designed specifically for the competition at the Berthollet Gymnasium.

The speed event will feature as a demonstration sport, providing an opportunity to showcase climbing as it bids for a place on the 2020 Olympic programme.

As well as a specially formed French team, Slovenian difficulty specialists Maja Vidmar, who was third overall in the 2011 World Cup, winner of the 2007 World Cup, and second at the 2008 European Championships, and Martina Čufar, the 2001 World Champion, will compete alongside Austrian two-time World Champion and three-time overall winner of the Bouldering World Cup Stöhr.

On the men's side, the lineup will include Stöhr's compatriot Fischhuber, five-time winner of the Bouldering World Cup, and France's Fabien Dugit Pinat, winner of the 2012 World Military Championships in bouldering and 2011 French military champion in difficulty.

Climbing is up against wrestling, baseball/softball, karate, roller sport, squash, wakeboard and wushu as the sports bidding for Olympic status at the 2020 Games.

The IOC is due to announce the winning sport at its Session in Buenos Aires in September.

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