Swiss commentator under fire for labeling Israeli Olympian ‘Zionist’

A Swiss broadcaster has pulled a report covering the two-man bobsled event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics after a commentator, Stefan Lena, faced backlash for labeling Israeli athletes as “Zionists” and questioning their participation. The comments were made during a live broadcast of the event, which featured Israeli athlete Adam Edelman.

Radio Television Switzerland (RTS) issued a statement clarifying that while their journalists aimed to address the International Olympic Committee’s policies regarding athlete comments, the length and tone of Lena’s remarks came off as unsuitable for sports commentary. Consequently, they removed that segment from their website.

According to reports, Lena stated that Edelman had self-identified as a “self-proclaimed Zionist” and suggested that his social media activity included posts related to “genocide” in Gaza, referencing United Nations terminology. This led Lena to question why Edelman was competing at the Olympics, given IOC rules against political expression in sports.

The Israeli embassy in Switzerland condemned Lena’s comments, calling them a “serious breach of professional responsibility,” and demanded an official apology. They expressed profound disappointment over what they deemed a misuse of the Olympic coverage to serve personal political agendas, asserting that such actions compromise the integrity of journalism.

In a response on social media, Edelman referred to the comments as slanderous. He highlighted the spirit of his team, emphasizing their determination and pride in representing Israel, stating, “We work together towards incredible goals and conquer them. That’s what Israelis are.” He expressed a sense of honor in representing Israel, countering the negative narrative by affirming their resilience and victories.