CORTINA D’AMPEZZO: Swiss broadcaster RTS said it had pulled from its website commentary on an Olympic bobsleigh run, in which a broadcaster questioned the presence of an Israeli athlete over his support for ‘genocidal’ actions in Gaza.
The commentary on Radio Television Suisse was aired throughout one of the runs of Israeli’s Adam Edelman and Chen Menachem in the two-man bobsleigh event on Monday. The pair, who were in last place after their first two runs, were due to complete their third and fourth runs on Tuesday.
The commentator, Stefan Renna, said Edelman had supported the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza, and suggested that this breached IOC rules on political statements by athletes at the games. Renna said in his commentary that Edelman defined himself as a Zionist, posted messages on social media in favour of “genocide” in Gaza, and had mocked a “Free Palestine” inscription he had seen on a wall on the sidelines of a World Cup race, among other things.
“Our journalist wished to question the IOC’s policy regarding the statements made by the athlete concerned… although factual, such information may have appeared inappropriate due to its length within the context of a sports commentary,” RTS said in a statement.
Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026