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Liora Rez, founder of StopAntisemitism, calls for the dismissal of a Swiss broadcaster who questioned the participation of an Israeli athlete in the Winter Olympics.
Radio Telesvision Suisse commentator Stefan Renna called Israel’s skeleton competitor AJ Edelman a “self-defined Zionist” who has posted several messages on social media in support of “genocide” in Gaza. Renna mentioned the United Nations in clarifying his use of the word “genocide.”
“It’s almost like Al Jazeera, a puppet state media outlet versus a European television network, and it was completely inappropriate,” Rez said in a recent interview with Pak Gazette Digital. “We firmly believe that Stefan should be fired and that his broadcaster should issue an apology.”
Israel’s Adam Edelman, left, slides down the track during a two-man bobsled training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
The network said it “removed the segment from our website” after the comments, “although the facts … may have seemed inappropriate due to their length within the context of sports commentary.”
Rez also called on the International Olympic Committee to “intervene and make clear that political comments, specifically those that punish the world’s only Jewish nation, are completely incorrect and will not be tolerated.”
“Unless consequences are enacted, more and more things like this will happen…simply because these platforms and events are so big with massive, massive audiences,” Rez said.
“Listen, we’re talking about the Olympics during a bobsled competition. These guys are flying around this ice rink in northern Italy at over 100 miles per hour. This was not the time to comment on the war between Israel and Gaza,” he added. “There are plenty of opportunities to talk about it. It clearly wasn’t like that… Instead of commenting on the bobsled competition and the form or the speed, he used it to vilify not only Israel, but to maliciously isolate and go after the team captain. It’s simply inappropriate and he should be held accountable.”
The IOC made headlines when it sold controversial T-shirts with Nazi propaganda, which sold out.
Division T-shirt with the 1936 Olympics poster and the Olympic rings (Olympic Store; Kevin Voigt/GettyImages)
“If they really wanted to showcase extraordinary athletic talent, they could have honored someone like Jesse Owens, whose achievements at the 1936 Berlin Olympics directly challenged Nazi ideology. Instead, they chose to honor Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. That choice speaks volumes,” Rez said of the jersey.
Rez said he has seen anti-Semitism “skyrocket” since October 7, 2023 and it has reached the world of sports.
“The Band-Aid on anti-Semitism has been completely ripped off. It’s very normalized in certain areas and before it’s normalized in the sports arena,” Rez said. “That’s why the IOC and other sporting bodies must take a stand, stand firm and say this will not be tolerated. They have to make sure that things like this never happen again in the future. Again it was completely wrong, completely inappropriate.”
Rez sent a message to Jewish athletes who will still have to deal with anti-Semitic comments.
Israel’s Adam Edelman, left, and Menachem Chen celebrate at the end of a two-man bobsled race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
“There are millions of people supporting you, behind you. Keep your head up, be proud and do your best. We are behind you.”
