The International Korfball Federation's Olympic Format Taskforce is to evaluate the sport's smaller formats for potential Olympic inclusion ©Getty Images

The International Korfball Federation (IKF) has revived its Olympic Format Taskforce, which aims to determine which of the sport's formats is likely to hold the greatest appeal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

IKF President Jan Fransoo revealed initial plans for the Taskforce to report to the IKF Council before the 2021 World Korfball Congress during his New Year message in 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After seemingly being held in cold storage, plans for the Taskforce are now in place, with the IKF advertising vacancies for three roles.

Dutch official Gabi Kool, who was appointed as IKF executive vice-president last month and is set to take over as chair of the Executive Committee from June, has been selected to chair the Taskforce.

The IKF is seeking a member responsible for commercial, sponsor and media appeal and fan engagement, a project manager and a member responsible for competition format, rules, athletes and scaling for its Taskforce.

The deadline for applications is March 8.

In the second quarter of this year, the body is expected to create its research framework, before conducting research among athletes, fans, sponsors and national and regional federations in the third and fourth quarters.

Interim findings are then due to be presented to the IKF and regional federations in the first quarter of 2023, with further work conducted based on feedback and comments in the second quarter.

A final report is scheduled for the third quarter of next year, after which the IKF plans to scale up and promote the new format with a view to the 2025 World Games in Chengdu and future Olympic Games.

Korfball is a mixed-gender sport featuring elements of netball and basketball.

It is traditionally played with four female and four male players on each team, but the IKF has introduced new formats requiring fewer players.

These include the beach4, urban4 and indoor4 disciplines, which are all set to be assessed by the Taskforce.

Major changes have been introduced from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games as part of the IOC's drive for
Major changes have been introduced from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games as part of the IOC's drive for "youth-focused sports", with three of the new sports at Tokyo 2020 including surfing securing places on the core programme ©Getty Images

Korfball has featured as a demonstration sport at the Olympics at Antwerp 1920 and Amsterdam 1928.

The proposed timeline for the Olympic Format Taskforce would likely be too late for inclusion at Los Angeles 2028, with Brisbane 2032 the next scheduled summer Games after that.

The core programme for the Olympics is determined by the IOC, with Organising Committees able to propose new sports to be included at the Games.

This enabled baseball and softball, karate, skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing to feature as new sports at Tokyo 2020.

As part of its Olympic Agenda 2020+5, the IOC claims that it aims for "an Olympic Programme which remains balanced and relevant to youth, ensuring gender equality, innovation, universality and participation of the best athletes".

Major changes have been implemented from Los Angeles 2028, with skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing added to the core programme and boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon left off the initial programme and given until 2023 to meet the IOC's criteria to preserve their place.