Israel’s participation in the two-man bobsleigh event at the 2026 Winter Olympics became the focus of controversy after a Swiss television commentator questioned Israeli slider Adam [AJ] Edelman’s presence at the Games during a live broadcast.
During one of the runs by Edelman and his teammate Chen Menachem in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Swiss broadcaster RTS commentator Stephan Renne departed from race analysis and addressed Edelman’s public statements regarding Israel’s war in Gaza.
Renne said that Edelman had defined himself as a Zionist and had posted messages on social media supporting what the commentator referred to as the “genocide” in Gaza.
“One can therefore question his presence in Cortina during these Games,” Renne said on air, citing International Olympic Committee rules concerning athletes’ connections to war and political activity.
The commentary aired throughout the run and was later reported by Reuters. RTS subsequently removed the segment from its website.
In a statement to Reuters, RTS said: “Our journalist wished to question the IOC’s policy regarding the statements made by the athlete concerned. However, although factual, such information may have appeared inappropriate due to its length within the context of a sports commentary. For this reason, we removed the segment from our website last night.”
The IOC said that questions regarding individual comments made by commentators must be directed to broadcasters. The IOC’s rules on active support of war currently apply to Russian and Belarusian athletes competing as neutrals following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Israeli condemnation of the statement
Israel’s Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar condemned the remarks.
“It is unacceptable that broadcasting unions around the world humiliate Israeli athletes and present them as supporters of genocide and call for their disqualification,” Zohar said. “I support Israel’s athletes, Adam Edelman, and call on the International Olympic Committee to condemn the remarks of the Swiss broadcasting union and keep the Winter Olympics free of politics.”
The Olympic Committee of Israel also issued a strongly worded statement.
“The Olympic Committee of Israel strongly and unequivocally rejects the remarks made during the live broadcast by the Swiss commentator regarding national team athlete Adam Edelman. These were one-sided, political and inflammatory statements that have no place in an Olympic broadcast and harm not only the athlete himself but the Olympic spirit as a whole,” the committee said.
“Adam Edelman meets all the criteria set by the International Olympic Committee and is entitled to compete in the Games. Any attempt to imply otherwise is baseless.”
Yael Arad, chairwoman of the Olympic Committee of Israel and an IOC member, also responded.
“The statement of the Swiss broadcaster is a brazen statement, it must be said. During yesterday’s bobsleigh broadcast there was a remark that we do not accept. Any attempt to link an Israeli athlete to genocide is wrong and improper,” Arad said.
“After saying all that, the fact that we are here and able to raise the Israeli flag is in itself the answer to all those who do not understand the Israeli and Jewish spirit,” she added.
Edelman, who has played a central role in building Israel’s bobsleigh program and is widely reported to be the first Orthodox Jew to represent Israel at a Winter Olympics, addressed the commentary on social media.
“[We are] a team of six proud Israelis who’ve made it to the Olympic stage. No coach with us. No big program. Just a dream, grit, and an unyielding pride in who we represent,” Edelman wrote. “I don’t think it’s possible to witness that and give any credence to the commentary.”
Edelman and Menachem were in last place after their first two runs and were scheduled to complete their third and fourth heats late Tuesday.