Israeli Winter Olympians Targeted in Burglary During Training
In a distressing incident ahead of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, members of the Israeli bobsled team have fallen victim to a robbery at their training apartment in Italy. The break-in occurred on Saturday, with thieves making off with critical items including passports and sporting equipment valued at thousands of dollars.
Team Presses On Amidst Adversity
AJ Edelman, the pilot for the Israeli bobsled squad and a former Olympic skeleton athlete, revealed the details through a series of social media posts. He emphasised that despite the violation, the team resumed their training schedule on the same day, with police launching an investigation into the theft.
Edelman praised his teammates' resilience, stating on X: 'Such a gross violation — suitcases, shoes, equipment, passports stolen, and the boys headed right back to training today. I really believe this team exemplifies the Israeli Spirit.' He described their response as a fine example of pushing forward in difficult circumstances.
Historic Participation for Israel
This incident casts a shadow over what marks a significant milestone for Israel in winter sports. The nation is set to compete in bobsled at the Olympics for the first time, having secured a spot after Britain declined one of its two allocated positions. Israel was next in line and accepted the offer when the final Olympic slots became available.
Edelman, who is believed to be the first Orthodox Jew to compete in a Winter Games, will drive both the two-man and four-man bobsleds. His team includes Menachem Chen for the two-man race, with Ward Fawarseh and Omer Katz joining for the four-man event. Notably, Fawarseh is likely to become the first Druze Olympian.
Broader Context of Tension
The robbery comes at a time when Israel's presence in international sports has faced backlash due to the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza. During the opening ceremony of the Games, which officially commenced on Friday evening, the announcement of the Israeli team prompted a mixed reaction. While some boos were heard over the loud soundtrack, there were also cheers in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where official bobsled training begins on Thursday.
The ceremony itself, held at Milan's San Siro stadium and titled 'Armonia', lasted three and a half hours and was attended by figures such as US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Vance, known for his criticism of Europe, drew jeers when his image appeared on screen.
Edelman confirmed to AP that he was not at the apartment during the robbery, but team coach Itamar Shprinz, an Israeli cross-fit athlete, was present. Some team members have yet to arrive in Italy and are expected to leave their undisclosed training base later this week. As the investigation continues, the Israeli athletes remain focused on their Olympic preparations, embodying a spirit of perseverance in the face of adversity.
