World has changed since Hitler refused to applaud Olympic hero Jesse Owens

Was Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson “irresponsible” to claim Vladimir Putin might seek the same sort of glory from the World Cup this summer in Russia that Adolf Hitler did from the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany (your report, 23 March)? I think it is more accurate to say that he has ignored some of the lessons from both pre and postwar history about the staging of these events. Any country that bids to stage sporting festivals is trying to show the world something about its progress. It was true six years ago when the London Olympics were opened with a jamboree lauding such things as the Industrial Revolution and the National Health Service. No doubt the late Nelson Mandela wanted to show the world that post-apartheid South Africa was mature enough to stage an international football tournament in 2010. Four years earlier a Germany reunited for 15 years hosted a marvellous World Cup which was a wonder of organisation and display.

Notwithstanding all that, there is a legacy of the 1936 Olympics from which all serious statesmen have learned something. It is difficult to imagine Vladimir Putin showing some of the animated support for his sportsmen that Hitler displayed on newsreels of the gathering. Similarly, it is almost unthinkable that any politician would today seek the sort of opprobrium that Hitler did in refusing to acclaim the late Jesse Owens’ achievements on grounds of race. Hitler may have sought to use the Games to demonstrate that Nazism was a serious force. But it is worth remembering that the decision to hold them in Germany was taken before his regime came to power. It is also worth remembering that the regime was able to consolidate power because most politicians elsewhere in Europe and America chose to ignore the emerging persecution and tyranny.

Democracies have matured a lot since then; whilst Boris Johnson might enjoy his rhetorical flourish, people are unlikely to be taken in by any attempt by Mr Putin to use sport for political ends.

BOB TAYLOR Shiel Court, Glenrothes

Perhaps we should not be over-surprised, but Boris Johnson’s odious comparison of Hitler and Putin was particularly offensive. The Russian people died in their tens of millions in the war against Hitler. There are many things that could have been said without this intentionally hurtful and insulting remark.

I am aware that like so many politicians Mr Johnson aims for the cheap headline and the oxygen of attention-seeking publicity, but I feel the Hitler remark was unquestionably way over the top and provocative. In fact he may well alienate those he is trying to impress.

This view does not imply support for Putin. On the contrary. It is a cry for measured words and considered actions in a time of crisis.

ALEXANDER MCKAY New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh