Bach arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport the day rising infection figures prompted the Japanese Government to place the capital under another state of emergency from Monday (July 12) until August 22, amid rising concern that the Olympics, due to run from July 23 to August 8, could trigger a further surge in infections.

According to the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee Bach will quarantine at his hotel before visiting the Athletes' Village, in Tokyo's Harumi waterfront district, and holding meetings with the organising body, both in-person and remotely.

The IOC is also arranging for Bach to visit Hiroshima, which was devastated by an atomic bombing in the closing days of the Second World War, on July 16, the starting day of an Olympic truce adopted by the United Nations (UN).

Meanwhile Bach has highlighted the IOC's intent to achieve its peace mission through solidarity and within the remit of the Olympic Games during his opening statement to the UN Human Rights Council’s panel discussion.

The discussion on promoting human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal is held every four years at the Session of the UN Human Rights Council preceding the Summer Games.

"Solidarity means more than just respect or non-discrimination," Bach said.

"Solidarity means actively helping, sharing and caring for one another.

"This is what we are doing within our remit of the Olympic Games.

"The Olympic Games are our remit.

"This is our responsibility.

"This is our commitment.

"As a non-governmental organisation, we have neither the mandate, nor the capability, to change laws of sovereign countries.

"We cannot solve human rights issues which generations of politicians were unable to solve.

"But within our remit, we take action.

"Not only with regard to the Olympic Games, but also with regard to our own operations.

"We have aligned our strategies on sustainability, gender equality and inclusion with human rights standards.

"We are a carbon-neutral organisation and we are committed to becoming climate-positive by 2024.

"We will achieve gender balance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 for the first time in history, with almost 49 per cent women participating."

Bach stressed the importance of the IOC's politically-neutral stance and the Olympic Games as being an ally to all in promoting peace and human rights - something the organisation has come under fire for with the next edition of the Winter Games to be hosted by China, a country campaigners say is committing a genocide against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. 

"In order for our actions on peace and human rights to be successful, we need the respect of politics for our mission.

"Because if this is not respected, then the Olympic Games would become as divisive as so many other areas of society today.

"The Olympic Games would lose their unifying power, and it would just not be possible for us to bring together the world in peaceful competition."

An opening statement was also delivered the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee chief executive Toshirō Mutō.

 Mutō said: "Athletes from all over the world gathered in Tokyo, competing under a single set of rules and with great performances, will demonstrate that our society has the potential to overcome many differences and become one.

"The Tokyo 2020 Games aim to be an opportunity for people around the world to reaffirm the importance of ‘Unity in Diversity’, and to create a society in harmony."