"I'm expecting Mr Putin to be in London," said Bilalov.

"That's if British MPs don't mind it.

"I heard the comments made in Parliament by Denis MacShane.

"I think that at least it's not very friendly.

"Sport and politics should not mix.

"That's why the Moscow Olympics and the Los Angeles Olympics, which had the boycotts, were so disappointing to athletes and sports people.

"I think this is not a serious proposal.

"I hope the people in Parliament are supporting us."

Bilalov, a former national wrestling champion, was speaking at the official launch of Team Russia Park, the ROC's hospitality site for athletes, officials and fans which will be located in Perk's Field, next to Kensington Gardens and very close to the Embassy itself.

MacShane said Russians had failed to hold a "proper investigation" into the murder of British citizen Alexander Litvinenko by polonium poisoning in 2006, and also highlighted the death in a Russian prison of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky two years ago.

In a  statement, the Russian Embassy referred to MacShane's "rude attacks" adding: "The provocative behaviour of this parliamentarian and his public statements can only be attributed to poorly disguised lobbying of known interests and personal motives, which apparently have to do with his direct role, as member of the former Labour Governments, in  deterioration of Russian-British relationship." 

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