IOC President Thomas Bach has said during this week's trip to Tokyo that he is encouraging all Olympic participants and fans to be vaccinated—if one becomes available—if they are going to attend next year's Tokyo Olympics. Bach says a reasonable number of fans should be able to attend the venues—vaccine or no vaccine. And he said confidently that the postponed Olympics will open on July 23.

On Tuesday Bach was visiting the Athletes' Village. In an on-line session last month with the IOC's Athletes' Commission, Bach was asked if athletes would be forced to be vaccinated. The Associated Press obtained the 90-minute recording of the session. "Every athlete should look at his fellow athletes and take this into consideration," Bach said.