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Israel’s participation in the two-man bobsleigh competition at the 2026 Winter Games became overshadowed by controversy after a Swiss television commentator questioned the presence of Israeli slider Adam Edelman during a live broadcast.
The incident unfolded during a run in Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of the host venues for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where Edelman competed alongside teammate Chen Menachem.
Swiss public broadcaster Radio Télévision Suisse aired commentary in which journalist Stephan Renne veered away from race analysis and instead focused on Edelman’s public statements about Israel’s war in Gaza.
During the segment, Renne referenced Edelman’s self-description as a Zionist and his social media posts supporting Israel’s military campaign. The commentator suggested that such views raised questions about whether the athlete should be competing at the Games.
“One can therefore question his presence in Cortina during these Games,” Renne said on air, citing what he described as International Olympic Committee policies on athletes’ links to war and political activity.
The remarks continued throughout the run, prompting immediate reaction on social media and among viewers. The segment was later reported by Reuters, amplifying the controversy beyond Switzerland.
RTS subsequently removed the clip from its website. In a statement to Reuters, the broadcaster said its journalist intended to question the IOC’s policy but acknowledged that the timing and length of the commentary were inappropriate for a sports broadcast.
“Our journalist wished to question the IOC’s policy regarding the statements made by the athlete concerned,” RTS said. “However, although factual, such information may have appeared inappropriate due to its length within the context of a sports commentary.”
The IOC declined to comment directly on the episode, stating that questions about individual commentators should be addressed to broadcasters. The organization reiterated that its current neutrality rules specifically apply to Russian and Belarusian athletes competing as neutrals following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Israeli officials responded swiftly and forcefully. Israel’s Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar condemned the remarks, accusing the broadcaster of humiliating Israeli athletes and politicizing the Games.
“It is unacceptable that broadcasting unions around the world humiliate Israeli athletes and present them as supporters of genocide and call for their disqualification,” Zohar said. He urged the IOC to ensure the Winter Olympics remain free from political attacks.
The Olympic Committee of Israel also issued a strongly worded statement rejecting what it called one-sided and inflammatory commentary that undermined the Olympic spirit.
“Adam Edelman meets all the criteria set by the International Olympic Committee and is entitled to compete in the Games,” the committee said. “Any attempt to imply otherwise is baseless.”
Committee chairwoman Yael Arad, who is also an IOC member, described the broadcast as improper and said linking an Israeli athlete to genocide rhetoric crossed a line.
“Any attempt to link an Israeli athlete to genocide is wrong and improper,” Arad said, adding that Israel’s presence at the Games was itself an answer to critics.
Edelman later addressed the controversy directly on social media, emphasizing the resilience of Israel’s small winter sports delegation. He noted the team’s limited resources and lack of a large support staff, framing their Olympic appearance as the result of determination rather than politics.
“We are a team of six proud Israelis who’ve made it to the Olympic stage,” he wrote. “Just a dream, grit, and an unyielding pride in who we represent.”
The episode has reignited a broader debate about the boundaries between sport and politics at the Olympics. While the IOC promotes neutrality, athletes’ national identities and global conflicts increasingly spill into the spotlight.
For Israel’s bobsleigh team, the focus now returns to competition. Edelman and Menachem placed last after their opening heats but were scheduled to complete their final runs later in the day.
Whether the controversy fades or lingers, it has already highlighted how even the fastest races on ice can become arenas for geopolitical friction.