London, Jul 25 (IANS): Organisers of the 2012 London Olympics have suggested that the thousands of security personnel on duty for the games should dress in tracksuits because their regular uniforms were "too intimidating".

However, top army officials have refused to accede to the request, The Sun reported Wednesday.

Organisers made the request so that security personnel would appear less "aggressive", even as the British government called in an extra 1,200 personnel to carry out guard duties. The total military force now deployed at the Games stands at 18,200.

"It's essential that our people (soldiers) can recognise each other instantly if they are to provide security. Tracksuits are completely unsuitable - there isn't a standard army tracksuit anyway," a senior army officer told the daily.

"They're soldiers. They should be in uniform so the public know who they are and we've been very hard over that," he said.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), however, denied making a formal suggestion for troops to wear tracksuits.

They said their discussion with the defence ministry was centred solely on which particular uniform soldiers, sailors and airmen should wear -- whether service dress or combat uniform, a LOCOG spokeswoman said.