Olympic Games: Josh Beltz takes Tasmanian team to 11

Josh Beltz has been upgraded from a reserve to a full member of the gold-medal favourite Kookaburras' squad to be captained by his fellow Hobartian Eddie Ockenden.

The International Olympic Committee granted increased flexibility "due to the unique circumstances" of the pandemic which enabled the Australian Olympic Committee to select an additional 16 athletes, making the 488 total the country's largest ever team for a Games on foreign soil.

Previously termed "alternate" athlete replacements, who were only to be called upon in case of injury, can now be used across any matches.

The hockey players join cyclists Georgia Baker and Richie Porte, triathlete Jake Birtwhistle, canoeist Daniel Watkins, rower Sarah Hawe, runner Stewart McSweyn, swimmer Ariarne Titmus, soccer player Nathaniel Atkinson and basketballer Chris Goulding as Tasmanians on the Australian team, while Ciona Wilson is a reserve for the rowing squad.

Alexandra Viney's selection for the PR3 mixed coxed four sees the Tasmanian-born rower join Forth runner Deon Kenzie at the Paralympics.

McSweyn continued his immaculate build-up with a stunning time of 7:28.94 over 3000m at the Diamond League meet in Gateshead, England, on Tuesday.

The time falls just outside McSweyn's 7:28.02 Australian and Oceania record, demonstrating the King Island product's fine form having run national and area records over the 1500m and mile in his two previous outings.