The Winter Olympics in Cortina have become embroiled in controversy after a Swiss broadcaster's commentary about an Israeli athlete's views on the Gaza conflict sparked a heated exchange. Adam Edelman, competing for Israel in the two-man and four-man bobsleigh events, has publicly condemned what he described as a "diatribe" from commentator Stefan Renna during his performance.
Broadcast Commentary Sparks Immediate Division
During Edelman's bobsleigh run at the Egenio Monti Centre, Renna - broadcasting for Swiss channel RTS 2 - highlighted the athlete's social media activity and political positions. The commentator noted that Edelman had described himself as a "Zionist to the core" and had called Israel's military intervention in Gaza "the most morally just war of all time." Renna also mentioned Edelman's messages of support for teammate Ward Fawarseh during his 2023 military deployment in Gaza.
The commentary immediately divided opinion among viewers, with some praising Renna for addressing what they called "genocide" in Gaza, while others criticised him for introducing politics into sports coverage. The International Olympic Committee's policies on political expression by athletes became central to the discussion.
Edelman's Forceful Response
Following his run, Edelman took to social media platform X to address the controversy directly. "I am aware of the diatribe the commentator directed towards the Israeli Bobsled Team on the Swiss Olympics broadcast today," he wrote. The athlete emphasised his team's achievements against the odds, noting they had reached the Olympic stage without a coach or major program support.
"Shul Runnings is a team of 6 proud Israelis who've made it to the Olympic stage," Edelman continued. "No coach with us. No big program. Just a dream, grit, and unyielding pride in who we represent. Working together towards an incredible goal and crushing it. Because that's what Israelis do." He urged followers not to "give any credence to the commentary" and expressed determination for upcoming events.
Renna's Detailed Critique
Renna's commentary went beyond simply noting Edelman's positions. He questioned whether the athlete should be participating at all, citing IOC guidelines that theoretically exclude athletes who "actively supported the war by participating in pro-war events, by being militarily engaged or through their activity on their social media."
The commentator drew parallels with recent Olympic controversies, particularly mentioning Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified for refusing to remove a helmet featuring images of Ukrainian soldiers killed in conflict. "Which shows that sport is obviously political," Renna concluded, highlighting what he saw as inconsistent application of IOC rules.
Broader Olympic Context
The incident occurs against a backdrop of ongoing debates about political expression at the Olympic Games. Renna noted that Heraskevych's disqualification came just hours before his scheduled participation, despite having practiced multiple times with the controversial helmet. IOC president Kirsty Coventry reportedly became emotional when describing her failed attempts to mediate between the Ukrainian athlete and Olympic officials.
Renna finished his commentary by observing, "We have other examples of politics drifting into sport this year in Cortina, as is the case at every edition of the Olympic Games." He concluded with Edelman's competitive result: "In any case, Adam Edelman recorded the 26th and last combined time after the first two runs."
The controversy highlights the persistent tension between the Olympic ideal of political neutrality and the reality of athletes as individuals with personal beliefs and national identities. As the Games continue, this incident serves as another chapter in the ongoing discussion about where sports end and politics begin in international competition.
