A Swiss sports commentator sparked international backlash after using a Winter Olympics broadcast to accuse Israeli bobsledder Adam Edelman of supporting “genocide in Gaza,” prompting the country’s public broadcaster to remove the segment from its website.
Swiss public broadcaster RTS said it took down the commentary, which aired during coverage of the bobsled competition at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, after the presenter shifted focus from the race to Edelman’s political views, calling him a “Zionist” and “a supporter of genocide in Gaza.”
“He is competing in the Olympic Games for the first time,” commentator Stéphane René began, before launching into a personal attack. “He has previously published several social media posts supporting genocide in Gaza, and described the Israeli army in Gaza as ‘the most moral in the world’ and that ‘this was the most morally just war in history.’”
In a statement to Reuters, RTS said the broadcaster “sought to address the International Olympic Committee’s policies and the athlete’s public statements,” but acknowledged that the length and context of the remarks during a sports broadcast may have been inappropriate. “The information was factual, but due to its length and the context in which it was presented, we decided to remove the segment from the website,” according to the broadcaster. RTS added that the commentator will not be allowed to continue addressing the issue during broadcasts.
The International Olympic Committee clarified that matters concerning commentators’ content fall under the sole responsibility of the broadcasting organizations, and did not provide a direct response to the allegations themselves.
“I am aware of the harsh words spoken by the presenter about our team,” Edelman wrote in response on his X account. “We are a team of six proud Israelis who made it to the Olympic stage. We have no coach by our side. No big program. Just a dream, determination and unwavering pride in what and who we represent. We are working together toward an incredible goal — because that’s what Israelis do. It’s hard to imagine watching this and giving any credibility to what was said on air. We’re looking forward to our final two-man heat and then excelling in the four-man — our specialty.”
The Israeli Olympic Committee said in a statement: “The Olympic Committee of Israel firmly and vehemently rejects the remarks made during the live broadcast by the Swiss commentator regarding national team athlete Adam Edelman. These were one-sided, political and inflammatory statements that have no place in an Olympic broadcast and harm not only the athlete himself but the Olympic spirit as a whole. The Olympic Games are meant to unite nations and athletes, not serve as a platform for unilateral political accusations.
"Adam Edelman meets all the criteria set by the International Olympic Committee and is entitled to compete in the Games. Any attempt to suggest otherwise is baseless. The Olympic Committee of Israel will turn to all relevant parties demanding an apology from the commentator and the network, and to ensure that incidents of this kind do not recur. We are proud of the athletes of the Israeli delegation, who compete with honor and represent the State of Israel on the international stage.”