<div>The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president plans to visit Hiroshima, but the residents of the city are calling for it to be cancelled because it would "dishonour" the victims of the bomb attack.</div>

In the wake of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus pandemic</a>, Thomas Bach has angered many Japanese with his decisions regarding Tokyo 2020.

On Friday, the first day of the Olympic Truce, he will visit the city's peace memorial park.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-iocs-bach-confident-of-sporting-success-despite-pandemic-398305">Tokyo Olympics: IOC's Bach confident of sporting success despite pandemic</a>

According to the Kyodo news agency, Kunihiko Sakuma, a leader of a group that supports Hibakusha or Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors says that holding the Olympics during a time when many lives were lost due to the virus, runs counter to the Games' spirit, which should be one of peace.

Nearly 75,000 signatures have been collected in an online petition opposing the trip. As the petition's sponsors noted, Bach's visit came just 76 years after the Trinity nuclear test in New Mexico, which led to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

According to Bach, his focus was just on marking the start of the Olympic Truce. He said that his visit was purely about peace and that this was the message he intended to convey in the city of peace of Hiroshima.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-covid-19-cluster-emerges-at-hotel-hosting-brazilian-olympians-398140">Tokyo Olympics: COVID-19 cluster emerges at hotel hosting Brazilian Olympians</a>

He also said that Politics will not factor into this and that this visit will not be politicized in any way.

Nihon Hidankyo, an organisation that represents survivors of both atomic bombings, has given no public comment on Bach's visit, but&nbsp;Sueichi Kido, its secretary-general&nbsp;said that he thought Bach should stay away.

It seems that Bach is using Hiroshima to further his cause, Kido told the Guardian in a personal capacity, stressing that he was speaking for himself.&nbsp;

He said that, despite Bach's claims, he doesn't trust anything Bach says, adding that the IOC is only interested in making money with these Olympics.

In addition to meeting Hidehiko Yuzaki, Hiroshima's governor and visiting the peace memorial park and museum, Bach will view the A-bomb dome, one of the few areas left standing after the attack on 6 August 1945.<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/most-at-tokyo-olympic-village-to-be-vaccinated-by-games-386002/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

A death toll of 80,000 of the 350,000 inhabitants of Hiroshima was recorded instantly; by the end of the year, it stood at 140,000, as survivors died from radiation-induced injuries or illnesses.

Tokyo 2020 organisers announced that the vice-president of the IOC John Coates will be visiting Nagasaki on Friday. He will lay a wreath at a memorial cenotaph at the peace park and the peace memorial hall.

Earlier this year, Coates sparked anger by saying the postponed Tokyo Games would "absolutely" take place even if the city were under a State of Emergency due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/social-distancing-tokyo-olympics-winners-will-have-to-put-their-medals-on-necks-by-themselves-398072">Social distancing: Tokyo Olympics winners will have to put their medals on necks by themselves</a>

A sharp rise in cases has prompted Tokyo to put in place emergency measures, including banning alcohol sales in bars and restaurants. The number of new infections reached 1,149 on Thursday, the most in nearly six months.

Bach said the cancellation was never an option, describing the games as a moment to show solidarity with the world during the pandemic.

It would have been a tragedy to lose a whole generation of athletes if the cancellation would have occurred," stated he in an interview with Kyodo.&nbsp;

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president plans to visit Hiroshima, but the residents of the city are calling for it to be cancelled because it would "dishonour" the victims of the bomb attack.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president plans to visit Hiroshima, but the residents of the city are calling for it to be cancelled because it would "dishonour" the victims of the bomb attack. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Thomas Bach has angered many Japanese with his decisions regarding Tokyo 2020. On Friday, the first day of the Olympic Truce, he will visit the city's peace memorial park. Also read | Tokyo Olympics: IOC's Bach confident of sporting success despite pandemic According to the Kyodo news agency, Kunihiko Sakuma, a leader of a group that supports Hibakusha or Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors says that holding the Olympics during a time when many lives were lost due to the virus, runs counter to the Games' spirit, which should be one of peace. Nearly 75,000 signatures have been collected in an online petition opposing the trip. As the petition's sponsors noted, Bach's visit came just 76 years after the Trinity nuclear test in New Mexico, which led to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. According to Bach, his focus was just on marking the start of the Olympic Truce. He said that his visit was purely about peace and that this was the message he intended to convey in the city of peace of Hiroshima. Also read | Tokyo Olympics: COVID-19 cluster emerges at hotel hosting Brazilian Olympians He also said that Politics will not factor into this and that this visit will not be politicized in any way. Nihon Hidankyo, an organisation that represents survivors of both atomic bombings, has given no public comment on Bach's visit, but Sueichi Kido, its secretary-general said that he thought Bach should stay away. It seems that Bach is using Hiroshima to further his cause, Kido told the Guardian in a personal capacity, stressing that he was speaking for himself. He said that, despite Bach's claims, he doesn't trust anything Bach says, adding that the IOC is only interested in making money with these Olympics. In addition to meeting Hidehiko Yuzaki, Hiroshima's governor and visiting the peace memorial park and museum, Bach will view the A-bomb dome, one of the few areas left standing after the attack on 6 August 1945. A death toll of 80,000 of the 350,000 inhabitants of Hiroshima was recorded instantly; by the end of the year, it stood at 140,000, as survivors died from radiation-induced injuries or illnesses. Tokyo 2020 organisers announced that the vice-president of the IOC John Coates will be visiting Nagasaki on Friday. He will lay a wreath at a memorial cenotaph at the peace park and the peace memorial hall. Earlier this year, Coates sparked anger by saying the postponed Tokyo Games would "absolutely" take place even if the city were under a State of Emergency due to COVID-19. Also read | Social distancing: Tokyo Olympics winners will have to put their medals on necks by themselves A sharp rise in cases has prompted Tokyo to put in place emergency measures, including banning alcohol sales in bars and restaurants. The number of new infections reached 1,149 on Thursday, the most in nearly six months. Bach said the cancellation was never an option, describing the games as a moment to show solidarity with the world during the pandemic. It would have been a tragedy to lose a whole generation of athletes if the cancellation would have occurred," stated he in an interview with Kyodo.

Olympic chief accused of insulting Hiroshima survivors by visiting atomic bombing site

Thomas Bach said Friday he will stand in 2021 for a second term as president of the International Olympic Committee.

The 66-year-old German was elected for an eight-year term as Olympic chief in September 2013, taking over from Belgian Jacques Rogge. Bach will be eligible for a second and final four-year term.

Speaking at the 136th IOC Session, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bach said: "If you, the IOC members, want, I am ready to run for a second term as IOC president and to continue to serve you and this Olympic movement we all love so much for another four years."

The IOC presidential elections are slated to take place in Athens in June 2021.

Bach, who won gold for West Germany in the foil fencing team event at the 1976 Olympics, claimed a large number of IOC members had recently approached him asking if he would seek re-election.

"I am grateful and deeply touched by the many words of encouragement and confidence," Bach said.

<h2>- Influential -</h2>

Elected an IOC member at the age of 37, Bach went on to play a series of influential roles within the organisation before being elected its ninth president.

He served as vice-president three times and was also chairman of the legal commission and head of anti-doping investigations.

Bach says his involvement in sports politics was sparked by West Germany's boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the government's disregard for athletes' concerns.

In 1981, he was elected as the Olympic athletes' spokesperson at the IOC Congress.

Under his reign as IOC chief, Bach has had to grapple with several political challenges, and has notably overseen the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Summer Games, both perceived as the most troublesome in recent years.

He has also been a key player in the ongoing Russian doping saga, although the IOC came in for criticism from some quarters for not issuing Moscow with a blanket ban over its state-sponsored doping system.

Bach also came under fire for reinstating the Russian National Olympic Committee after the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics despite failed drugs tests there.

He is credited, however, with having put in place the Olympic Agenda 2020, reforms aimed at cutting costs and streamlining bidding processes to better attract potential host cities.

But the German lawyer and businessman could well have his biggest challenge ahead of him, in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a historic move, the Tokyo Olympics were in March postponed until 2021 -- a first in peacetime.

There are fears over whether the Games will even go ahead next year, while Beijing is scheduled to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, just six months later.

Thomas Bach said Friday he will stand in 2021 for a second term as president of the International Olympic Committee. The 66-year-old German was elected for an eight-year term as Olympic chief in September 2013, taking over from Belgian Jacques Rogge.

Thomas Bach said Friday he will stand in 2021 for a second term as president of the International Olympic Committee. The 66-year-old German was elected for an eight-year term as Olympic chief in September 2013, taking over from Belgian Jacques Rogge. Bach will be eligible for a second and final four-year term. Speaking at the 136th IOC Session, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bach said: "If you, the IOC members, want, I am ready to run for a second term as IOC president and to continue to serve you and this Olympic movement we all love so much for another four years." The IOC presidential elections are slated to take place in Athens in June 2021. Bach, who won gold for West Germany in the foil fencing team event at the 1976 Olympics, claimed a large number of IOC members had recently approached him asking if he would seek re-election. "I am grateful and deeply touched by the many words of encouragement and confidence," Bach said. - Influential - Elected an IOC member at the age of 37, Bach went on to play a series of influential roles within the organisation before being elected its ninth president. He served as vice-president three times and was also chairman of the legal commission and head of anti-doping investigations. Bach says his involvement in sports politics was sparked by West Germany's boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the government's disregard for athletes' concerns. In 1981, he was elected as the Olympic athletes' spokesperson at the IOC Congress. Under his reign as IOC chief, Bach has had to grapple with several political challenges, and has notably overseen the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Summer Games, both perceived as the most troublesome in recent years. He has also been a key player in the ongoing Russian doping saga, although the IOC came in for criticism from some quarters for not issuing Moscow with a blanket ban over its state-sponsored doping system. Bach also came under fire for reinstating the Russian National Olympic Committee after the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics despite failed drugs tests there. He is credited, however, with having put in place the Olympic Agenda 2020, reforms aimed at cutting costs and streamlining bidding processes to better attract potential host cities. But the German lawyer and businessman could well have his biggest challenge ahead of him, in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a historic move, the Tokyo Olympics were in March postponed until 2021 -- a first in peacetime. There are fears over whether the Games will even go ahead next year, while Beijing is scheduled to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, just six months later.

Olympic chief Thomas Bach to stand for second term

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Olympic chief accused of insulting Hiroshima survivors by visiting atomic bombing site

Olympic chief Thomas Bach to stand for second term