He has accepted an invitation from COU President Julio César Maglione, who revealed that Bach’s visit will be the highlight of the activities planned to commemorate the 100th founding of the National Olympic Committee on October 26 in 1923.

As well as attending events organised by the COU, Bach is expected to meet Uruguay’s President Luis Lacalle Pou during his two-day visit on October 23 and 24.

It is expected that the President will appoint Bach as an honorary citizen of Uruguay and accompany him to a gala dinner.

Maglione, a former President of the International Swimming Federation and an honorary member of the IOC since 2015, highlighted "the great joy" at the news that Bach will take part in the centenary celebrations.

It will be Bach’s second visit to Uruguay having previously been there in 2017 for the Pan American Sports Organization Congress in 2017 held in Punta El Este.

Bach’s predecessors have also visited Uruguay on several occasions with Lord Killanin travelling there in 1973 and 1979, Juan Antonio Samaranch in 1982, 1994 and 2000 and Jacques Rogge in 2006.

The COU was founded so that Uruguay could participate at the 1924 Olympics in Paris, where its football team won the gold medal with a 3-0 victory over Switzerland in the final.

Uruguay retained their title in Amsterdam four years later, beating neighbours Argentina 2-1 in the final.

The country has not won a gold medal since.

Uruguay's last medal was a silver for cyclist Milton Wynants in the men’s points race at Sydney 2000.

In its 100-years history, the COU has had only five Presidents and Maglione has led the organisation since 1987.

At the last Olympics at Tokyo 2020, Uruguay were represented by 11 athletes in five sports.

Their best performance was in the rowing where Bruno Cetraro and Felipe Klüver finished sixth in the men's lightweight double sculls.