Top UK diplomat likens Russian World Cup to Hitler’s 1936 Olympics
Boris Johnson agrees with suggestion from opposition lawmaker, who compared Putin hosting upcoming soccer tournament to Nazi leader’s propaganda exploitation
Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson leaves after attending the weekly cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London, March 20, 2018. (Ben Stansall/AFP)
LONDON — British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said it is sickening to think of President Vladimir Putin “glorifying” in Russia hosting the World Cup.
After the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Britain said it would not send royals or government ministers to the soccer tournament, though the England team will compete.
Speaking to Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Johnson agreed with a Labour lawmaker who likened the event to Adolf Hitler’s use of the 1936 Olympics as a propaganda vehicle for his regime.
Labour’s Ian Austin said the UK should pull out of the World Cup altogether, and warned: “Putin is going to use it in the way Hitler used the 1936 Olympics.”
In this August 2, 1936 photo, Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goering are seen watching events at the Olympics in Berlin. (AP)
Johnson responded: “Yes, I think the comparison with 1936 is certainly right. I think it’s an emetic prospect, frankly, to think of Putin glorying in this sporting event.”
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Editionby email and never miss our top stories
Johnson said the British government is not discouraging fans from attending the tournament, but is concerned about their safety. He said the British embassy official in charge of fan safety was one of 23 diplomats expelled by Russia in a tit-for-tat feud over the poisoning.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
