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A live broadcast on Swiss Radio and Television (RTS) has sparked debate after sports commentator Stefan Renna made critical remarks about Israeli bobsled athlete Adam Edelman and his public statements regarding Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
During coverage of an international bobsleigh competition, Renna stated that Edelman, a member of Israel’s national team, had described himself as a “Zionist” and had shared multiple social media posts expressing support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Renna also referred to reports by the United Nations International Commission of Inquiry, noting that the commission has used the term “genocide” in relation to the situation in Gaza.
Swiss commentator Renna also said that Edelman characterized Israel’s military intervention as “the most moral and most justified war in history” in his public posts.
The commentator questioned whether such statements were compatible with participation in international sporting events.
Renna further referenced the position of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has previously stated that athletes who actively support armed conflicts may face restrictions regarding eligibility to compete.
He argued that this principle had been applied strictly to Russian athletes in recent years, while Israeli athletes have continued to participate in international competitions.
As part of his remarks, Renna cited the case of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, who had reportedly been prohibited from wearing a helmet featuring images of victims of the war in Ukraine during Olympic events.
Renna suggested that differing approaches to such cases raised concerns about consistency in enforcement.
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