Beijing 2022 striking better balance

Tong Lixin, the sports department director of the 2022 organizing committee, concurred.

"The popularity of these events with younger generations is one of the major reasons for their inclusion," said Tong. "It will also help promote gender balance and the full utilization of stadiums and facilities."

A slight gender imbalance will remain at the Beijing Games, but the quota of female athletes will jump to 45.44 percent compared to 41 percent in Pyeongchang this year.

Skating has now joined biathlon and curling in achieving gender equality, while the bobsleigh and skeleton, hockey, luge and ski federations have all increased female participation.

Also on Wednesday, the 17-day competition schedule for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games was approved, with six new events featured: 3x3 basketball, baseball/softball, skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing.

The executive board also approved process and principles for the Paris 2024 to nominate new sports.

After a consultation with relevant international federations, Paris' proposed sports will then be presented for approval at the IOC Session in 2019 before being finalized in December 2020.