Almost 300 fewer athletes will take part at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from last year’s Rio Games as a result of programme changes made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC officially signed off the programme for the Games with the introduction of five news sports and a net increase of 15 events. However, there will be an overall reduction of 285 athletes from the 2016 Olympics.

As a consequence of the changes, Tokyo 2020 is expected to be the most “gender balanced” Olympic Games in history, with female athlete representation hitting the 48.8 per cent mark.

The IOC said it was a “significant step” towards its Agenda 2020 ambition of achieving gender parity at the Games.

“The fascinating new events that we approved today, together with the five new sports that were added to the Tokyo 2020 programme last year represent a step-change in the Olympic programme,” said IOC chief executive Thomas Bach.

“I am delighted that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will be more youthful, more urban and will include more women.”

The addition of five sports – surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing, baseball/softball and karate – is expected to give the Games a more youthful look, while the number of mixed events will double to 18, resulting in more women competitors.

New events include: swimming – 800m (men), 1500m (women) and 4x100m medley mixed relay; archery – mixed team event; athletics – 4x400m mixed relay; basketball – 3x3 (men and women); cycling (BMX) – freestyle park (men and women); cycling (track) – madison (men and women); fencing - team events (men and women); judo - mixed team event; table tennis – mixed doubles; triathlon – mixed team relay.