The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, has said that not attending the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi is a "missed opportunity" for British prime minister David Cameron.

A number of high-profile world leaders, including Cameron, US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, are believed to have avoided attending the Olympics because of Russia's human rights record and anti-gay laws.

"Everybody who is here and who is ready to listen and see will know that here are great Games going on for the athletes," Bach told BBC Sport, when asked if he was disappointed that the British PM did not travel to Sochi.

"I can only invite and say 'come, see and then make your decision'. I always think if you don't have a dialogue, it's a missed opportunity.

"A dialogue is always better than talking about each other. It's always better to talk with each other."

Downing Street has denied that Cameron did not attend the Games because of political issues.