insidethegames understands that this was agreed in principle following a meeting in Kuwait between ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and Patrick Baumann, his counterpart at the Global Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF).

Baumann had previously called for a greater IF role in an event which is due to be held for the first time in San Diego next year.

"We have expressed our views to ANOC and we feel that the relationships between National Olympic Committees and IFs should be on a 50-50 par and that should guide the future of our relationship," he said late last year.

"It is not about one above the other and that is the main point we are still working on."

Haider Farman, the Olympic Council of Asia's sports director who is playing a key role organising the Beach Games, was also present at the meeting alongside Baumann and Sheikh Ahmad.

He told insidethegames afterwards that more formal collaboration was discussed.

"Yes they did and it was all positive - but after San Diego," he said.

A GAISF spokesperson confirmed that this was the outcome and claimed they were enjoying "positive and continuing discussions".

The Beach Games was originally launched as a joint project between ANOC and SportAccord - the former name of GAISF - in October 2013 but has been increasingly seen as a personal priority of Sheikh Ahmad.

The idea came out of the success of the Asian Beach Games, first held in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008. 

Relations between the two bodies deteriorated in 2015 when former SportAccord President Marius Vizer awarded Sochi the inaugural edition without participation from ANOC, although the Russian coastal resort withdrew soon after before Vizer's resignation.

Relations between GAISF have undergone a gradual improvement since Baumann was elected President in 2016.

Sports due to appear in San Diego include 3x3 basketball, BMX freestyle, beach handball and a karate beach kata event, along with the surfing disciplines stand-up paddle and shortboard.

A park terrain skateboarding event is also set to feature, along with beach soccer, open water swimming, aquathlon, beach tennis and a 4x4 beach volleyball competition.

The programme will be completed by bouldering, wakeboarding, a waterski jump event, kiteboarding and beach wrestling.

The event was initially due to take place in 2017 but was pushed back to October 2019 last year to allow more time for preparations.

ANOC secretary general Gunilla Lindberg claimed in November that they had been approached by four cities regarding potentially hosting the 2021 World Beach Games.

Securing sponsors and commercial contracts for the event has proved challenging so far and it is likely that involvement from more-experienced IFs could make this easier.