He claimed that it is unfair to criticise organisers for so far failing to meet legacy commitments given "the extremely difficult situation in Brazil which is the worst crisis the country has ever gone through".

The German used London as an example of how much time was needed to deliver the benefits of hosting an Olympic Games.

Bach is currently here attending the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships at the Olympic Stadium on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 

The anniversary celebrations in Brazil have been overshadowed by continuing chaos in Rio de Janeiro after 8,500 soldiers were deployed to the streets of the city in an attempt to quell escalating violence.

Economic problems are also continuing as the State Government battles with bankruptcy in the midst of ongoing corruption investigations.

In this context, many of the Olympic venues still sit empty and dilapidated while organisers have still failed to pay off debts.

"You have to take into consideration the extremely difficult situation in Brazil which is the worst crisis this country has ever gone through," Bach said.

"In such a situation, not all the legacy plans are coming to fruition…in the time they were planned for.

"You have to respect this and be fair there with the Brazilians.

"After the Games here in London the Park was closed for more than a year to do the refurbishments and to make the adaptations.

"This opportunity you also have to give to Rio 2016 and, given the very difficult circumstances, for reasons of fairness give them an extension of this time because, maybe in this emergency situation, they have other priorities at this moment in time."

Bach's stance continues the approach the IOC have adopted since the end of Rio 2016 of downplaying the legacy problems in public.

In private, however, more concerns are being expressed and it is notable that the IOC have now insisted that they will not provide organisers with any more money to help settle debts. 

A report published last month by a Federal Agency responsible for Olympic legacy that the Games budget had increased to BRL$43.3 billion (£10.4 billion/$13.2 billion/€11.8 billion) - around BRL$14.5 billion (£3.5 billion/$4.4 billion/€3.9 billion) more than originally planned.

Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman has also defended the Olympic legacy and insisted that the event was a good use of public money.

"The public money invested was allocated for the benefit of the city," he told Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paolo.

"My conscience is absolutely clear. 

"I would do it all over again, exactly the same way."

Others, though, have been far more critical and insisted that money would have been better spent on improvements to health, education and other areas.

There has been some improvement, including the official opening of Carioca Arena 3, one of the venues used last year in the Olympic Park at Barra de Tijuca, to the Brazilian public in May.

But deadlines to full reopening the two Olympic Parks in Barra and Deodoro have been repeatedly missed.

Wider legacy benefits including a bid-time commitment to treat water pollution on Guanabara Bay by 80 per cent have also been missed while many apartments on the former Athletes' Village site in Barra remain unsold.

This comes alongside continuing corruption probes connected to venue construction and the city's successful bid for the Games in 2009.

This has implicated IOC member Frankie Fredericks.

He denies wrongdoing after a company he owned was accused of receiving money from a Brazilian businessman on the same day the Games were awarded.