The programme, entitled “#DiscoverYourGold”, is targeted at 15 to 24-year-olds who could be fast-tracked to the international sporting stage.

It is the result of a partnership between UK Sport, Britain’s high-performance agency, the English Institute of Sport (EIS) and a range of National Governing Bodies.

Over 20 sports are involved in the scheme, which has been split into five areas.

“#Discover Your Power” encompasses cycling, skeleton and canoeing, "#DiscoverYourParaPotential” deals with all Paralympic sports and “#DiscoverYourFight” focuses on judo, taekwondo and women’s boxing.

“#Discover#YourGiant” will attempt to find the latest batch of top-level British rowers, while winter sports, including freestyle skiing and snowboard, feature in the “#DiscoverYourFreestyle” strand.

It comes after six-time Olympic champion Chris Hoy helped to launch the "#DiscoverYourPower element of the programme on the opening day of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, held here in March.

A number of high-profile British names were in attendance here to officially unveil the scheme, such as Olympic boxing gold medallist and world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Sochi 2014 skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold.

They were joined by Paralympic cycling gold medallist Mark Colbourne, and former athlete Darren Campbell, part of the victorious British 4x100 metres team at Athens 2004.

“I was very lucky to find the sport of boxing which set me on the exciting path to the London 2012 Olympic gold medal and World Heavyweight Championship,” Joshua, who shot to fame by clinching the heavyweight title on home soil at London 2012, said.

“Discover Your Gold is a fantastic campaign from UK Sport and the EIS that will help unearth the champions of the future.

“Becoming an elite athlete isn’t easy but if you combine talent with hard work, dedication and the right support, absolutely anything is possible and I am proof of that.”

It is hoped the campaign will be able to identify athletes who could win medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and beyond.

“Discover Your Gold is all about ensuring young people with sporting talent get the opportunity to reach their full potential no matter what their background,” UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl added.

“We are looking for athletes with raw endurance, speed or power.

“You might be in the wrong sport, but with the potential, with access to the right training and support, to become a future Olympic medallist.

“If you are highly competitive, mentally tough and up for the challenge of a lifetime - we want to hear from you.”

Those interested in applying for the scheme can do so by clicking here.