The MoU "in the field of physical education and sport" was agreed by Britain's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation for clear cooperation between the two countries over the next two years.

It was signed by British Sports Minister Hugh Robertson (pictured top right) and Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko (top left) when the pair met here during the SportAccord International Convention.

"This is a ground-breaking agreement between two Olympic host cities to co-operate on sporting issues and on opportunities around hosting major sporting events," said Robertson.

"It shows the closeness of the sporting relationship between the UK and Russia."

The MoU states that Britain and Russia are "seeking to further develop cooperation in the field of sport, between 2013 and 2015, to strengthen friendship and to improve mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries".

It continues that both countries are "willing to share best practice and experience in the efficient management of the economic, social, and cultural legacy of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in London and the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi."

The MoU will also see cooperation between Britain's and Russia's Governmental sports institutions and sports federations in the areas of high performance sports events, physical education and mass sports, sports for the disabled, sports science and sports medicine and sports infrastructure and technologies.

In addition, the agreement outlines how there will be an exchange of information and experience as Russia prepare to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

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