The new panel has been created to "advise the IOC Session, the IOC Executive Board and IOC President Thomas Bach on issues relating to the effective and secure use of digital and information technologies".

They will duly make recommendations on the IOC’s strategy for information security, including cyber-security, and will ensure that the IOC has an "appropriate strategy for the effective, secure and sustainable use of technology to support the delivery of the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games".

Werthein, a businessman and doctor in veterinary medicine, who is President of the Argentine Olympic Committee as well as an IOC member, has been one of the most vocal allies of Bach and Association of National Olympic Committees President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah in recent years.

This included a series of interjections criticising the World Anti-Doping Agency last year when they disagreed with the IOC's response on Russian doping problems.

There will be 12 other members of the new Commission including IOC Athletes' Commission chair Angela Ruggiero and Puerto Rico's Richard Carrion, second behind Bach in the 2013 race for the IOC President.

Other members include Prince Feisal of Jordan, United States Olympic Committee chair Larry Probst and International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation President Ivo Ferriani.

Colombia's Luis Moreno is one of three individuals added to the IOC last year on the panel, along with Auvita Rapilla of Papua New Guinea and Sari Essayah of Finland.

Kenya's Paul Tergat and International Golf Federation executive director Anthony Scanlon are also on the Commission.

A total of 38 per cent of all members on 26 different Commissions are female, the IOC announced today, in what they claim is a 70 per cent increase on 2013.

Increases in the number of members from America, Africa and Asia were also heralded, guaranteeing a "more global and diverse continental representation", it is claimed.

New Zealand's Barry Maister has also been appointed the new chair of the Olympic Education Commission to replace Britain's Sir Philip Craven.

Sir Philip is due to stand down as President of the International Paralympic Committee and vacate his IOC membership in September. 

Canada's 12-time Paralympic medallist Chelsea Gotell has been added as a non-IOC member on the Athletes' Commission.

Other changes include the addition of Moreno to the Finance Commission and the departure of former London 2012 director of communications Jackie Brock-Doyle from the Communications Commission.

Brock-Doyle is now communications director of the International Association of Athletics Federations. 

"These changes are aligned with the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 and show that a stronger participation of women and a more diversified continental representation are our top priorities," said Bach.

"The diversity of members guarantees interesting and more inclusive discussions and reflects the Olympic Movement’s commitment to universality.

"Listening to youth, entrusting youth and empowering youth is needed more than ever in the world of sport.

"This will contribute to keeping tomorrow’s sport and the Olympic Movement as a whole relevant, inspiring and impactful.

"We need to mentor and nurture the next generation of sports leaders. 

"This recent move is a positive signal and message for the entire movement and world of sport."

The full list of IOC Commissions for 2017 can be found here.