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A Swiss sports journalist has found himself at the center of controversy for his candid commentary on the Israeli team’s participation in the bobsled competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Radio Television Switzerland (RTS) sports commentator Stefan Reyna called the Israeli team’s pilot Adam Jeremy Edelman “a Zionist through and through” after he appeared on screen during the Israeli team’s run at the Milan-Cortina competition on Monday.
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Shortly after Edelman’s competition began, Reyna commented on the athlete’s social media posts supporting Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.
“Adam Edelman is an Israeli athlete and, as he himself says, a Zionist through and through,” Reyna said in a video reviewed by Al Jazeera.
As the Israeli team’s bobsled continued its run, the commentator added: “He posted several messages on social media supporting the genocide in Gaza.”
“It should be noted that the term ‘genocide’ was the term used by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry. According to Edelman, the military intervention was ‘the most just and moral war in history.'”
Reyna criticized the International Olympic Committee’s decision that “athletes who have taken part in activities supporting the war through military or social media accounts are ineligible to participate,” saying the athletes’ presence in Cortina during the Olympics “raises questions.”
This decision specifically applied to Russian athletes after Russia launched a war against Ukraine. He questioned why similar standards were not applied to Israel.
“Mr. Edelman called on his followers to support Israeli athlete Ward Fawarza, who is here in Cortina while taking part in Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip in 2023,” the Swiss journalist added.
The Israeli bobsled team finished last out of 26 teams.
The video spread widely on social media, but RTS removed it from its YouTube channel overnight.
Swiss media confirmed to Al Jazeera that the video was from Olympic coverage.
“Our journalists wanted to question the IOC’s policy regarding the athlete’s statements in question,” RTS told Al Jazeera on Tuesday.
“However, while such information is true, its length makes it inappropriate for sports commentary. As such, we removed that portion from our website last night.”
Reyna’s commentary has been praised by a wide range of sports fans and Palestinian supporters, who praise her courage to use her position to criticize Israeli players.
At the same time, however, Reyna faced criticism and anger, led by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who accused him of anti-Semitism and “spreading bigotry and hatred” for his posts on X.
Stop Anti-Semitism, a prominent group in the US Zionist lobby, called for Reina’s removal, accusing him of insulting the Israeli team.
Edelman responded to Reyna’s comments on his social media accounts, writing: “I am aware that during today’s Swiss Olympic coverage, the commentators launched a harsh attack on the Israeli bobsled team.
He added: “The Shoal Running Team is made up of six proud Israelis who have reached the Olympic podium. We have no coach, no intensive training program, just dreams, determination and unwavering pride in what we represent. We work together to achieve big goals and surpass them with flying colors. Because that’s what Israelis do. I think it’s impossible to watch it and believe what the commentators say.”
The IOC has not issued a statement about the incident, but spokesperson Mark Adams answered questions about the incident at a press conference on Tuesday.
“I would like to remind everyone associated with the Olympics, even if it’s ocular, of our values and our Charter and our idea of trying to bring people together despite what’s happening in other parts of the world,” he said.
“But in terms of specific comments by commentators on one particular broadcast, I think that’s an issue that should be referred to the broadcaster. So that’s not an issue for us at this stage.”
