Innsbruck, Austria  - Innsbruck in Tyrol in western Austria is to take on an extraterrestrial theme when it hosts an ice sculpture competition from January 12 to 16.

Ten teams of two artists each will compete to create the best sculpture based on well-known alien figures such as ET, according to the local tourist office in Innsbruck.

The sculptures will be positioned along the town's Silvretta Arena ski slope, giving visitors a "close encounter of the third kind" until spring. (dpa)