Smyth, who won the 100 metres and 200m sprint double at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London earlier this month, is joined in the group by athletes from various classes and countries around the world.

His two fellow Europeans are Great Britain’s Stephen Miller, a three-time Paralympic gold medal-winning club thrower in the F32 category, and Germany’s Marc Schuh, the silver medallist in the men’s 400m T54 at the 2013 World Championships in French city Lyon.

The sole representative for North America is Canadian runner Jason Dunkerley, a winner of five Paralympic medals.

Australia’s Carlee Beattie, South Korea’s Kim Gyu Dae and New Zealand’s Liam Malone make up the Asia-Oceania representatives.

Beattie won women’s long jump T47 gold at the 2015 World Championships in Qatar’s capital Doha, while Kim won the 800m T54 title at Lyon 2013.

Malone, meanwhile, shot to fame by claiming the 200m and 400m T44 crowns at last year's Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he also finished with a silver medal in the 100m.

The group’s aim is to represent the views of current athletes and make their voice heard within World Para Athletics.

In an attempt to achieve this, they will consider issues related to athletes and provide advice to the Sport Technical Committee (STC) and the World Para Athletics management team.

Key responsibilities include establishing a means of seeking athletes’ opinion on issues of major importance in Para-athletics through as wide a network of enquiry as possible.

Among the others are keeping the World Para Athletics management team regularly informed of athlete opinion on issues of major importance, and reporting to the World Para Athletics management team on organisational issues that may arise in connection with athlete participation at the different competitions organised under the World Para Athletics umbrella.

The group will also provide opinions on specific issues of athlete interest, strive to promote a "healthy image" and "fair play", and liaise and consult with other Committees and the AAG, where appropriate.

Completing the list of duties are promoting and fostering the worldwide development of Para-athletics and attending or hosting athletes’ meetings at major sport competitions.

The International Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council has welcomed the announcement of the group.

"It's another great step forward in the empowerment of our athletes within the Para-sports movement," Australian wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley, a member of the Council, said.

"The AAG will provide a stronger platform for athletes to shape the direction of Para-athletics into the future."

World Para Athletics are soon due to appoint the AAG leader, who will then represent the body during STC meetings.