During coverage of the men’s two-man bobsleigh event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, a commentator on Swiss public broadcaster Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) sparked a significant backlash. Instead of describing the race, he focused much of his on-air commentary on the political views and social media posts of Israeli pilot Adam Edelman, a member of the Israeli bobsled team.
The broadcaster, pushing commentary far beyond sporting analysis, called attention to Edelman’s self-description as a “Zionist to the core” and cited posts in which he had publicly defended Israeli military actions in Gaza — including using charged language and referencing international reports on the conflict.
Broadcaster Removes Segment After Outcry
After the exchange quickly went viral, the Swiss network pulled the clip from its website, with RTS later saying that while the information mentioned by the commentator was “factual,” it was inappropriate for the context of sports coverage due to its length and focus. The removal came amid criticism that live Olympic commentary should remain focused on sporting events, not serve as a platform for political debate — particularly given the Olympics’ longstanding principle of political neutrality in competition.
Athlete Responds to the Criticism
Edelman, who was competing alongside teammate Menachem Chen, reacted to the remarks on social media. He dismissed the commentary as a “diatribe” and shifted attention back to his team’s Olympic journey — emphasizing their pride in representing Israel and the challenges they have overcome. Despite finishing toward the end of the standings in the heats, Edelman highlighted how meaningful it was for him and his teammates to be at the Games, underscoring that sport and personal identity are separate from political critique.
Reactions and Debate
The broadcaster’s decision also drew mixed reactions:
- Supporters of Edelman and others argued that bringing political issues into Olympic coverage violated the spirit of the Games and unfairly targeted the athlete for views expressed outside of competition.
- Critics of the broadcast said that discussing an athlete’s public statements or background during competition is inappropriate and distracts from the sport itself. The International Olympic Committee noted that commentary and broadcasts are the responsibility of individual networks, emphasizing that the IOC’s role is not to police commentary content during events.
Broader Discussion on Politics and Sport
This event has rekindled debate about the role of politics in international competition. While the Olympic Charter discourages political demonstrations during events, social discussions inevitably follow when an athlete’s public political positions are brought into the spotlight during global broadcasts. Supporters of maintaining a strict separation stress that Olympic coverage should focus on athletic achievements and fair play, while others argue that broader world events often overlap with athletes’ identities and public profiles. The incident has triggered broader commentary on how media should handle such subjects without overshadowing the competition.
Conclusion
The incident involving the Israeli bobsledder and the Swiss commentator highlights the ongoing tension between sport and politics on the global stage. While athletes increasingly express their personal views outside competition, live sports broadcasts remain a space where audiences largely expect neutrality and focus on performance. The swift removal of the commentary suggests that broadcasters recognize the importance of maintaining that boundary, particularly during events meant to unite viewers across cultures and nations. Ultimately, the controversy serves as a reminder that how stories are framed can shape public perception just as powerfully as the events themselves, reinforcing the need for careful judgment in international sports coverage.
