Winter Olympics commentator calls out Israeli bobsledder live on air and athlete responds
The broadcast clip has since been taken down after being deemed 'inappropriate'
Callum Jones
In a now-deleted viral Winter Olympics clip, a Swiss commentator could be heard calling out a bobsledder from Israel for his 'support of the genocide in Gaza'.
On Monday (February 16), Adam Edelman was competing in the two-man bobsled heats at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games when commentator Stefan Renna called him out.
Radio Télévision Suisse, the television station that broadcast the commentary, has since taken the viral clip down due to it not being ‘appropriate’ for a sports broadcast.
The Swiss commentator said during the broadcast: "We remind you that 'genocide' is a term used by the UN commission of inquiry on the region. Edelman, who notably said of the Israeli military intervention that it was, again, I quote, 'the most morally just war in history’."
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Renna's remarks about the Olympian lasted for the majority of Israel’s bobsled run on Tuesday and it seems as though the comments were prepared.
The commentary quickly went viral overnight and Edelman has since addressed them in a statement he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"I can't help but notice the contrast: Shul Runnings is a team of 6 proud Israelis who've made it to the Olympic stage," the sports star wrote.
"No coach with us. No big program. Just a dream, grit, and unyielding pride in who we represent. Working together towards an incredible goal and crushing it. Because that's what Israelis do.
“I don't think it's possible to witness that and give any credence to the commentary.
“We look forward to our final 2man run and then crushing the 4man event, our specialty.”
Following the broadcast, IOC spokesperson, Mark Adams, has addressed the incident at a press conference in Italy.
"I would remind everyone involved, however tangentially, in the Olympic Games, of the values and the charter and the idea of us trying to bring people together despite what's happening in the rest of the world," the spokesperson said.
"But in terms of specific comments by a commentator on one specific broadcast, I think that's a matter to refer to the broadcaster. So that's not a question for us at this stage."
Radio Télévision Suisse have also issued a statement in recent hours, stating the comments were 'inappropriate' for a sports broadcast.
A spokesperson for the network told Deadline: "Our journalist wanted to question the IOC’s policy regarding the athlete’s statements. However, such information, while factual, is inappropriate for sports commentary due to its length. Therefore, we removed the segment from our website last night."