Radio Television Suisse commentator Stefan Renna should be fired for referring to Israeli Olympian Adam Edelman as a ‘self-defined Zionist,’ as well as other controversial statements, according to StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez.
Renna began his commentary of Edelman’s recent bobsled run by saying the Israeli-American described himself as a ‘Zionist to the core.’ The Swiss announcer went on to say Edelman called Israel’s 2023 military intervention of Gaza ‘the most morally just war of all time.’
He went on to explain that the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry determined that Israel did commit genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
‘It’s almost like Al Jazeera, puppet-state media broadcasting versus a European TV network, and it was entirely inappropriate,’ Rez told Fox News, referring to the Qatari news outlet. ‘We firmly believe that Stefan needs to be terminated, and an apology needs to be issued by his broadcasting network.’
Radio Television Suisse removed the segment from its website and has since released a statement about the incident.
‘[The remarks], although factual…may have appeared inappropriate due to its length within the context of a sports commentary,’ read the network statement.
Israel’s Adam Edelman and Menachem Chen arrive at the finish during a two man bobsled run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Tuesday
Radio Television Suisse commentator Stefan Renna (pictured) should be fired, one critic says
But to Rez, further action is needed from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Specifically, Rez wants the IOC to abolish ‘political commentary, specifically chastising the world’s only Jewish nation,’ she told Fox.
‘Unless consequences are enacted, more and more things like this are going to happen…just because these platforms and events are so large with massive, massive audiences,’ Rez continued.
‘Listen, we’re talking about the Olympics during a bobsled competition. These guys are flying down this ice track in northern Italy going at 100 plus miles an hour. It was not the time for commentary on the Israeli-Gaza war.’
The IOC is already defending itself against allegations of antisemitism for selling a controversial t-shirt honoring the 1936 Berlin Olympics — an event now seen as German dictator Adolf Hitler’s attempt at legitimizing himself for an international audience.
Rez told Fox News, the IOC has a responsibility to fight rising Antisemitism at the Olympics
A t-shirt featuring a poster from the 1936 Berlin Olympics has sold out on the IOC website
As Rez told Fox News, the IOC could have chosen to honor Jesse Owens, who famously won four gold medals at the Berlin Games, but instead emblazoned the shirt with one of the host country’s posters.
Rez went on to caution Fox News viewers about rising antisemitism in the sports world.
‘The Band-Aid of antisemitism has been completely ripped off. It’s very much normalized in certain areas and before it gets normalized in the sports arena,’ Rez said.
‘That’s why the IOC and other sports bodies need to take a stand, put their foot down and say this will not be tolerated. They have to ensure that things like this never happen again in the future. It was again wholly wrong, entirely inappropriate.’
A Boston native, Edelman completes in both bobsled and skeleton after growing up playing hockey.
His team finished 26th after two runs in the two-man bob competition.