British athletes could face Olympic trials to qualify for Team GB

The idea of two televised events has been floated, with British Olympic Association chief executive Bill Sweeney saying some sports had already expressed an interest in the new format.

Currently, sports such as swimming and athletics hold their trials, with the winners qualifying – providing they have met the required time – while selectors still have space to allocate discretionary spaces.

The American system presents an all-or-nothing scenario, with the trials being the only chance to qualify for the Games, meaning if you are ruled out of the event by injury or illness, or did not make the top three, you would not go to the Olympics – even if you had set a world record that season, as happened to America's Kendra Harrison this summer.

Swimming, gymnastics, taekwondo and triathlon are all thought to be interested in the new format while others, such as boxing and cycling, hesitant on the idea.

And Sweeney admitted there may have to be some flexibility on selection issues, softening the harsh rules imposed in America.

"There are a number of good conversations going on at the moment and the idea is that it will take place in June 2020," he added.

"It's an idea backed by UK Sport and we've seen it work very successfully in the United States.

"It would be a slightly different model [to the USOC trials] - it wouldn't be as brutal with their first-past-the-line idea, which might be because they've got more athletes to choose from."