The 59-year-old Dane, who unseated incumbent Italian Carlo Croce during the Presidential election in Barcelona last November, admitted they would "like to have a seat in the IOC to develop our sport".

Croce was never a member of the IOC, but the three previous presidents were.

Canada's Paul Henderson, President of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) from 1994 to 2004 and who stood unsuccessfully against Croce and Andersen last year, served as an IOC member from 2000 to 2004.

Göran Petersson of Sweden, head of the ISAF between 2004 and 2012, also gained membership to sport's most exclusive club at the IOC Session in Copenhagen in 2009.

Finland's Peter Tallberg, President of the worldwide governing body from 1986 to 1994, was the second-longest serving IOC member at the time of his death in May 2015 at the age of 77.

The five-time Olympic sailor was elected as an IOC member in 1976.

Jacques Rogge, IOC President between 2001 and 2013, was himself a competitive sailor, representing Belgium in the Finn class at the Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 Olympic Games.

Andersen, head of the World Sailing Equipment Committee before his surprise election as President, said his immediate focus was on the work of his governing body but that they would look to pursue a place within the IOC in future.

"When I was elected President, it was for World Sailing and I just want to make a difference," Andersen told insidethegames.

"I think for World Sailing, as an International Federation it is very important to be part of the IOC. 

"If we can promote that, we can have a role.

"We can support the IOC in any way and if they feel the same, then yes definitely we would like to have a seat in the IOC to develop our sport together with all the other Olympic sports."

Read the full interview with Andersen here.