"To prepare for the skateboarding competition in Tokyo, transforming established athletes in other events into professional skateboarders seems the only solution," he added.

Since the GASC officially launched a global audition for the four new summer events in 2016, about 20 athletes in each discipline have been targeted from around 1,200 registrants in the mass selection phase.

An international experts group consisting of coaches, physical trainers, nutritionists and psychologists with expertise in the four sports has also been assembled to further assess and guide them.

Having raised questions over the viability of such a bold move, Xu Gang, an athletic training professor at Beijing Sport University and a panel member of the program, said it's "a rational choice with scientific basis".

"The selection will only reach out to those talents with basic physical conditions and transferable athletic backgrounds with the target events," he said.

"With intense and professional training, their potential in the new events will be unleashed."

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn