MILAN (AP) 鈥� Switzerland鈥檚 public broadcaster has taken down a clip from its website after a journalist鈥檚 commentary during an Israeli bobsled team鈥檚 run was criticized.
The commentator quoted and referred to past social media posts by supporting the conflict in Gaza. Stefan Renna also cited that require Russian athletes not to have publicly backed the war in Ukraine.
The two-minute commentary on Monday also noted a report commissioned by the United Nations Human Rights Council which that Israel committed genocide. Israel disputed those findings as “distorted and false.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Switzerland鈥檚 French-language public broadcaster RTS said its journalist was questioning the IOC policy in relation to the athlete鈥檚 public comments.
鈥淗owever, such information, while factual, is inappropriate within a sports commentary due to its length,鈥� RTS said. 鈥淔or that reason, we removed the clip (Monday) night from our website.鈥�
Shul Runnings
Edelman responded to the commentary late Monday with a after placing 26th after two runs in the two-man bob competition. It was Israel’s Olympic debut in the sport of the team branded 鈥淪hul Runnings鈥� in tribute to the Jamaica bobsled debut at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games.
鈥淣o coach with us. No big program. Just a dream, grit, and unyielding pride in who we represent,鈥� wrote the Boston-born athlete, who competed for Israel in skeleton at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
鈥淲orking together towards an incredible goal and crushing it. Because that鈥檚 what Israelis do,鈥� Edelman added. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 possible to witness that and give any credence to the commentary.鈥�
Olympics’ local broadcaster
RTS is the local public network for the IOC’s home city Lausanne.
鈥淚t is not a question for us at this stage,鈥� IOC spokesman Mark Adams said on Tuesday about the incident, directing questions to the broadcaster.
Renna also referred to the Vladyslav Heraskevych 鈥� for insisting on wearing a helmet with pictures of athletes and coaches killed during the Russian invasion 鈥� and noted there were examples of political issues at every Olympic Games.
The commentary was described as 鈥渂eyond disgusting鈥� by the United States ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee in a social media post.
Edelman was due back at the sliding track in Cortina d鈥橝mpezzo later Tuesday to resume the two-man competition. He is also due to pilot a crew in the four-man competition starting on Saturday.
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