The decision, made at the FIG’s Council meeting in Melbourne, is set to open up 24 extra spaces for male and female gymnasts at the Tokyo Games as more countries are now able to qualify.

At London 2012 there were five-person teams, while there were six men and six women each at Beijing 2008, Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000, down from seven at Atlanta 1996.

Earlier this year, the United States’ women’s national team coordinator Martha Karolyi told NBC Sports OlympicTalk that talk of the rule change was “absurd”.

“It will hurt the spectacle, what the gymnasts can provide for the whole world, and would eliminate some of the strongest gymnasts just in our country,” she said.

“Even when the team was six we had to leave home some strong ones."

Karolyi added: “I totally don’t feel like I am really happy about that, but decisions will be taken, and we will be with any kind of decision.

“That’s what we did in the past, even if something doesn't seem like very smart or very good, but once the rules are set for us, we will go with it.”

The FIG also said that up to two gymnasts from countries already qualified for the team competition would be eligible to compete in the all-around event or on their specialities based on a qualification system that includes results from the Continental Championships, World Cup and World Challenge Cups.

Teams currently qualify through the World Championships in the year before the Olympics and at the ensuing test event in the host venue.