With a large number of Russian athletes banned from competing at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics,... and a handful of others competing under a neutral flag,... Russian President Vladimir Putin as ordered his government to organize an alternative competition next month.
The event which is set to take place after the Olympics,... will include disciplines such as biathlon, cross-country skiing, speedskating and more.
Organizers are expected to invite athletes from other nations, as well.
This comes after the IOC banned Russia from PyeongChang,... after reports of a vast, state-sponsored doping scheme from the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.