The IOC Executive Committee ruled in late March that athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to return to international sport as neutrals but a decision on participation for Paris 2024 has yet to be made.

Under the IOC’s conditions of neutrality, only those that have not publicly spoken out in support of the war in Ukraine and are not associated with the Russian and Belarusian militaries or national security agencies should be considered for readmission.

International Federations have been divided in their response with several opting to maintain their bans.

Archery, canoeing, cycling, fencing, golf, judo, modern pentathlon, skateboarding, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon and wrestling have all permitted a return for athletes from Russia and Belarus under the IOC’s recommended conditions, but athletics, badminton, equestrian, sport climbing and surfing have refused to ease their restrictions.

Bach underlined the IOC’s approach to Russia and Belarus when speaking in Sofia where he celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOK).

"The recommendation of the IOC is that athletes of all countries should be allowed to participate in the qualifying competitions that are already taking place," said Bach in a report by Russia’s official state news agency TASS.

"I hope that many federations will accept our recommendations.

"I am happy that I received support in this regard from the President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev.

"He, like us, wants athletes from all 206 IOC National Committees to be able to participate in the Olympic Games."

The IOC’s stance has angered the Ukrainian Government which has announced that athletes from the country would boycott any qualification events for Paris 2024 where Russians and Belarusians are present.

Bach insisted that the IOC was "working hard to unite athletes from all over the world" to ensure that they can take part in global sporting events "without restrictions".

The German official was invited to Sofia where he met Radev to celebrate the centenary of the BOK.

BOK President Stefka Kostadinova, Bulgarian Sports Minister Vessela Letcheva and European Olympic Committees President Spyros Capralos also attended the event along with 400 Olympic medallists, renowned coaches, sporting leaders and politicians from the country.

According to Letcheva, plans for Bulgaria to host a future edition of the Winter Youth Olympics was among the subjects discussed by Bach and Radev, as reported by the Bulgarian News Agency.

Gangwon in South Korea is set to host next year’s Games, but no host has yet to be found for the 2028 edition.

Letcheva also praised Bach for trying to keep war out of sport, insisting it is "tough mission but I think a visionary’s mission".

"Today, in a time of crisis and war, we realise more clearly than ever before how important the Olympic values are," said Letcheva.

A photography exhibition has been created to mark the 100th anniversary of the BOK.

"Bulgaria was among the 14 countries which participated in the first [modern] Olympic Games in Athens in 1896," added Letcheva.

"It was not a coincidence that Bulgarians sat on the IOC even before the BOC existed officially.

"Generations of eminent Bulgarian athletes, coaches and experts have spent much effort, energy, talent and emotion to promote the timeless values of the Olympic Movement in Bulgaria, such as sportsmanship, supportiveness, tolerance and mutual understanding."