The two events have been combined into one so results from a single meet will count towards both.

The governing body has merely stated that the decision comes "for organisational reasons" following lengthy discussions with the Norwegian Luge Federation.

"It is a great pity that we cannot hold our World Cup and the European Championships in Norway in January," said FIL President Einars Fogelis.

"We would like to explicitly thank the Norwegian federation for their great efforts.

"We were all looking forward to the races in Lillehammer, but unfortunately we can't make it happen for organisational reasons.

"We are very happy to have found a replacement quickly and thank the Latvian federation for their support and flexibility."

The races would have taken place on the 1994 Olympic track in Hunderfossen from January 13 to 15.

The dates are due to remain which means there will be three consecutive World Cup events in Sigulda as competition is scheduled for the Latvian location from January 7 to 8.

The host change will mark the final stop on the World Cup calendar before the World Championships take place in Oberhof from January 27 to 29 which, unlike the continental event, will not count towards the season standings.

Legs in Altenberg, Winterberg, Saint Moritz, and Winterberg again are then due to close out the World Cup season with four meets on consecutive weekends in February.

It is set to be the sixth time that the European Championships are due to take place in Sigulda following events in 1996, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2021.

Lillehammer has staged it just once, in 2020.