Israel's Adam Edelman, left, and Menachem Chen celebrate at the end of a two-man bobsled run at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Supporters of the Israeli team argue that the Olympic Games are meant to focus on athletic achievement and unity, not political narratives.
By Eitan Devir, Jewish Breaking News
Swiss sports commentator Stefan Renna sparked immediate backlash during Olympic coverage after delivering an extended on-air anti-Israel monologue about Orthodox Jews, Israeli bobsled athlete AJ Edelman, and his teammate Ward Farwarsey.
During the broadcast from Cortina, the Renna said the following about Edelman:
“AJ Edelman, competing in the Olympic Games for the first time, who describes himself as ‘a Zionist to the core,’ I quote, and who has posted several messages on social media in support of the genocide in Gaza. It should be noted that ‘genocide’ is the term used by the UN commission of inquiry on the region.”
Continuing his remarks, the same commentator went on to reference Edelman’s past public statements, saying:
“Edelman notably stated, regarding the Israeli military intervention—again, I quote: ‘This is the most morally just war in history.’”
Renna did not stop there. He further addressed Edelman’s actions off the ice, stating:
“He also mocked a ‘Free Palestine’ inscription on a wall in Lillehammer, on the sidelines of a World Cup event. He further asked his followers to send ‘strength’ to Ward Farwarsey when this member of the Israeli team—present here in Cortina—was involved in an Israeli army operation in the Gaza Strip in 2023.”
The remarks, made by Renna during live Olympic coverage, quickly circulated online and drew criticism from viewers who accused him of injecting politics into international sports coverage and singling out Israeli athletes by name.
Supporters of the Israeli team argue that the Olympic Games are meant to focus on athletic achievement and unity, not political narratives.
Others said the decision to repeat and amplify politically charged allegations during a sporting event was inappropriate.
As of now, neither the Israeli Olympic delegation nor the International Olympic Committee has publicly responded to the commentator’s statements.
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