Australia's team at Tokyo 2020 will be a record for an overseas Olympics ©Getty Images

Australia is set to send its largest team to an overseas Olympics after naming an additional 16 athletes for the postponed Games here.

The extra competitors in equestrian, football, hockey, judo and rugby have been selected after following changes to International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules regarding replacements because of challenges posed by COVID-19.

Australia's squad has grown to 488 athletes, surpassing the 482 the country sent to the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

The nation's record for an Olympics of 617 came, unsurprisingly, at Sydney 2000.

A total of 14 athletes in football, hockey and rugby sevens have been selected by Australia for Tokyo 2020 after the IOC confirmed alternates can be used in team sports.

Teams were previously able to select alternates to travel with the team, but they were only available as permanent replacements in Olympic squads, should a member suffer an injury during the event.

Judoka Nathan Katz has been chosen to represent Australia after earning selection with a continental roll down quota, while Stuart Tinney has replaced fellow eventer Chris Burton, whose horse Quality Purdey has suffered an injury.

Judoka Nathan Katz is among the additional athletes selected by Australia for Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Judoka Nathan Katz is among the additional athletes selected by Australia for Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

AusCycling is due to name a replacement for Jack Haig following his withdrawal from the Tokyo 2020 team after sustaining an injury at the Tour de France.

"We’ve always said this Australian team deserves a special place in history," said Australia's Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman.

"But this is an unexpected milestone, and a positive one. 

"I am really pleased for the athletes who now have this opportunity, just as I am disappointed when we lose athletes through the misfortunes that are a part of sport.

"We know these Games will be different, and the regulations allowing for extended squads in these sports is a welcome adaptation that will assist our teams to be at their best in Tokyo."

Australia has won 501 medals at the Olympics, including 29 at the last Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The country's softball team is due to feature in the first sporting competition of Tokyo 2020 when they take on Japan in Fukushima next Wednesday (July 21).

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed to this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, are scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8.