Swiss Broadcaster Sparks Outrage by Attacking Israeli Bobsledder During Olympic Run | WATCH
A Swiss broadcaster is under fire after commentator Stefan Renna used a live Olympic bobsleigh run to launch a political attack on Israeli athlete AJ Edelman. Instead of sports, Renna broadcasted "genocide" accusations and anti-Zionist rhetoric, sparking global demands for his immediate termination.
A Swiss sports commentator has ignited international controversy after using a live broadcast of the two-man bobsleigh event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics to criticize the Israeli team and its captain, AJ Edelman, over his views on the Israel-Gaza war.
Instead of providing standard race commentary, Stefan Renna of the public broadcaster Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) spent nearly the entire duration of the Israeli sled's run highlighting Edelman's social media posts, which Renna described as supporting "genocide" in Gaza.
The incident occurred during the Israeli team's second heat on February 16, where Edelman and his teammate finished 26th out of 26 competitors, recording the slowest start and finish times.
Renna, quoting Edelman directly, noted the athlete's self-description as a "Zionist to the core" and his characterization of the war in Gaza as "the most morally just war in history."
He also referenced Edelman's messages of support for Israeli Defense Force members deployed in Gaza and questioned the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to allow Israeli athletes to compete, contrasting it with restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes due to their countries' involvement in conflicts.
Edelman, who holds dual Israeli and U.S. citizenship, responded post-race by stating, "We are victors, not victims."
The Israeli bobsled team, nicknamed "Shul Runnings," has faced scrutiny, but supporters argue the focus should remain on athletic performance.
The commentary has drawn sharp backlash from Jewish organizations and pro-Israel voices, who accuse Renna of antisemitism and unprofessionalism for injecting politics into a sports event.
StopAntisemitism, a U.S.-based group, posted on X: "Rather than standard sports commentary, Renna insulted the team, specifically captain AJ Edelman. Calls for Renna’s termination are growing."
Canadian journalist Dahlia Kurtz challenged Renna to provide proof of Edelman's alleged support for genocide, calling the remarks defamatory and suggesting legal action.
Others, including David J. Hart, urged RTS Director Pascal Crittin to sanction Renna, emphasizing that the Olympics should promote unity, not propaganda.
RTS has not issued an official statement on the matter.
The Israeli Olympic delegation and the IOC have also not responded.