European Professional Club Rugby chief executive Vincent Gaillard has been chosen as chair of the Advisory Council ©LinkedIn

An Advisory Council has been set up by the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) to aid the worldwide governing body with the "development of strategic policy initiatives".

The six-member body will be made up of a number of volunteers from around the sporting world.

Vincent Gaillard of Switzerland, a former chief executive of umbrella organisation SportAccord and who currently holds the same position within European Professional Club Rugby, will chair the Advisory Council.

Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games chief executive Peter Bayer, former United States Olympic Committee (USOC) member Val Belmonte and Mary-Clare Brennan, who worked with the USOC's marketing division for 17 years, will also sit on the board.

They will be joined by Christian Wassmer, a former winter sports and International Federation relations manager at the International Olympic Committee.

"The Advisory Council will have as its sitting members individuals with significant experience and expertise in the business of sport across many disciplines, providing a perspective for our organisation as it continues to develop in the areas of commercial support, broadcast, and Olympic Games aspirations,” WFDF President Robert Rauch said.

"We have pulled together an incredibly talented group of experienced individuals who will greatly assist us in refining our strategy and implementation plans at this critical juncture in our growth within the Olympic Movement, and we thank them for offering their support."

Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games chief executive Peter Bayer has also been named on the Advisory Council ©Getty Images
Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games chief executive Peter Bayer has also been named on the Advisory Council ©Getty Images

It is hoped the Council will help improve the development of the various flying disc disciplines to help the sport grow worldwide.

It comes after the WFDF admitted regret after it was revealed a number of Member Associations would not be able to take part in the 2017 World Championships of Beach Ultimate, after the sport's governing body received too many applications from teams wishing to take part in the event.

Rauch claimed 200 entries for the competition, due to be held in Royan in France from June 18 to 24, had been submitted.

As a result, team sizes and registrations have been restricted for the event, according to the WFDF, with 15 players in each side and one non-playing member allowed per team.

Rauch said as many as 33 Member Associations would be affected, with some teams not being able to attend.