Putin using World Cup like Hitler used 1936 Olympics: UK’s Boris Johnson
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
22.03.2018 10:00
Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has agreed with a remark that the upcoming World Cup in Russia could be used by Vladimir Putin for propaganda purposes in the same way as the 1936 Olympic Games in Nazi Germany were used by Hitler, according to reports.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Photo: EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
Amid an international outcry over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in southern England, a British Labour MP compared the football World Cup in Russia, which is due to be held in June and July, to the 1936 Olympics which were held in Berlin and which Adolf Hitler used to spread Nazi propaganda.
Johnson said that the comparison with 1936 was right, the BBC reported.
He told the British parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Wednesday: “I think the comparison with 1936 is certainly right and … I think it is an emetic prospect to think of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin glorying in this sporting event.”
Johnson made the remark while being questioned by MP Ian Austin about whether England should be participating in the World Cup, according to the independent.co.uk website.
Johnson said that it would be unfair to ban the England team and fans from attending the tournament, but argued that it would be sickening to watch Putin present the World Cup in July, amid concerns that the event could be used as a “PR exercise to gloss over the brutal, corrupt [Russian] regime,” the independent.co.uk website reported.
Teams from 32 nations will play a total of 64 matches at 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities during the World Cup, which kicks off on June 14 and ends on July 15.
Poland will play Senegal, Colombia and Japan in the group stage of the tournament, following a draw in Moscow in early December.
Polish President Andrzej Duda will not attend the World Cup's opening ceremonies in June, an aide said on Tuesday.
(gs/pk)
Source: bbc.com, independent.co.uk