Swiss Commentator Criticizes Israeli Olympian Over Gaza Stance

During the men's bobsleigh event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Swiss broadcaster RTS commentator Stefan Renna drew widespread attention for remarks criticizing Israeli athlete Adam Edelman, accusing him of supporting Israel's military actions in Gaza through social media posts and questioning his eligibility to compete.

The incident occurred on February 16 as Edelman, making his Olympic debut as pilot for the Israeli team, began his run. Renna, providing live commentary, described Edelman as a "Zionist to the core" who had posted messages supporting what Renna called "genocide in Gaza," a term he attributed to a United Nations Commission of Inquiry. Renna quoted Edelman as having described Israel's military intervention as "the most morally just war in history" and alleged that the athlete had mocked a "Free Palestine" graffiti during a World Cup event in Lillehammer. He also referenced Edelman's call for supporters to encourage teammate Ward Fawaresh, who Renna said participated in an Israeli military operation in Gaza in 2023.

Renna further suggested that Edelman's participation raised questions under International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines,...