A multi-sport British Olympic trials competition is close to becoming a reality after 16 cities plotted bids to co-host the revolutionary concept.

Broadcasters were also being lined up to televise the event, which would borrow from the successful United States model by pitting athletes against each other for a place on Team GB a month before each summer Games.

Up to eight sports were committed in principle to a competition that would be staged over two or three weekends from 2020 and part of which could take place on the Olympic Park in a bid to rekindle the magic of London 2012.

Plans to stage multi-sport British trials first emerged almost a year ago as part of the British Olympic Association’s drive to raise the profile of Olympic sports and athletes outside of Games time.

Currently, each sport sets its own qualification criteria, which may or may not involve the staging of formal trials.