Speaking at the end of the 136th IOC Session, Bach hoped that the Games can turn into a celebration for the whole world following the pandemic that has delayed virtually all sporting events.
The Tokyo Olympics next year will use the same venues and follow an almost identical competition schedule as the one originally planned for this year before the event was postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
However, Bach told an IOC session held by video conference that it was too early to give details on coronavirus prevention measures during the Games or on whether events would be in full or partly-full stadiums, or behind closed doors.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japanese government decided in March to postpone the Games until 2021 and organisers have been working to rearrange an event almost a decade in the making.
The Olympics had been set to begin on July 24 this year.
One of the biggest questions concerns how many people will be able to travel to the Games and watch the events.
“This is of course one of the scenarios we have to look into, because this depends, has to do, with travel restrictions, with quarantine, with everything. But it’s too early to tell,” said Bach, speaking from the organisation’s headquarters in Lausanne.
“we would like to see stadia full of enthusiastic fans and to give them all the opportunity to live for the Olympic experience and to support the athletes. This is the first line we are working for,” added Bach, who earlier said he was prepared to stand for re-election next year.
The 2022 Beijing Olympic Games scheduled to start just six months after the end of the Tokyo Olympics and Bach said that the proximity of the two events could be helpful, with everybody used to protocols that may have to be followed.
Bach added that he wanted an open Games after talk of boycotts by certain countries.