Israel’s first-ever Olympic bobsled team was robbed of passports, equipment, and thousands of dollars worth of gear just days before their historic Winter Games debut, yet another example of the hostility Israeli athletes face abroad while global elites turn a blind eye.
Story Snapshot
- Thieves stole passports, suitcases, shoes, and equipment worth thousands from Israel’s bobsled team apartment during final training in Europe on February 7, 2026
- The team immediately returned to training despite the violation, with pilot AJ Edelman praising their resilience as embodying the “Israeli Spirit”
- This robbery follows boos directed at Israel’s Olympic delegation during the Milan opening ceremony amid anti-Israel backlash over the Gaza conflict
- Israel’s bobsled team marks the nation’s debut in the sport after Great Britain forfeited a qualification spot, competing in both two-man and four-man events
Robbery Targets Historic Olympic Team
Thieves broke into an apartment housing Israel’s inaugural Olympic bobsled team on Saturday, February 7, 2026, stealing passports, suitcases, equipment, and personal items valued at thousands of dollars. The robbery occurred at an undisclosed European training location ahead of official Olympic sessions beginning February 12 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Local police launched an investigation immediately, though no arrests or recoveries have been reported. Despite the theft of critical documents and gear, team members resumed training the same day, demonstrating determination that their pilot, AJ Edelman, characterized as quintessentially Israeli resilience.
Edelman, a former skeleton Olympian and the first Orthodox Jewish Winter Olympian, detailed the incident on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “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.” The timing of the crime raises serious concerns about security for Israeli athletes competing internationally, particularly given the volatile political climate surrounding Israel’s participation in global sporting events. The stolen passports could complicate travel logistics for team members not yet in Italy, potentially disrupting preparations for their groundbreaking Olympic appearance.
Team Faces Hostility at Winter Games
The robbery comes just one day after Israel’s Olympic delegation endured boos from spectators during the opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium on February 6, 2026. This hostile reception reflects broader anti-Israel sentiment in European sports venues tied to the ongoing Gaza conflict that began after Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251 hostages on October 7, 2023. Israeli athletes competing abroad increasingly face boycotts, protests, and now apparently targeted theft, while international Olympic authorities remain largely silent about ensuring their safety and dignified participation. This pattern of hostility undermines the Olympic ideal of apolitical competition and reveals a troubling double standard where Israeli competitors face consequences for their nation’s self-defense.
Israel’s bobsled team qualified for Milan-Cortina 2026 after Great Britain declined one of its allocated spots, marking the first time the Jewish state fielded competitors in the sport. The team, nicknamed “Shul Runnings” as a nod to Jewish culture and the famous “Cool Runnings” film, consists of pilot AJ Edelman, two-man pusher Menachem Chen, four-man pushers Ward Fawarseh and Omer Katz, and coach Itamar Shprinz. Fawarseh is likely the first Druze Olympian representing Israel. The nation’s entire Winter Olympics delegation includes just nine Olympians and one Paralympian, with Israel never having won a Winter Games medal in its history.
Resilience Amid Growing Antisemitism
The theft of equipment and passports creates significant logistical and financial hurdles for a small team representing a nation with limited Winter Olympics infrastructure. Replacing bobsled equipment is expensive, and securing emergency travel documents for athletes whose passports were stolen adds bureaucratic delays during critical final training days before competition begins. Yet the team’s refusal to let this setback derail their preparations speaks to a broader Israeli cultural trait of perseverance under adversity. This incident, combined with the opening ceremony jeers, demonstrates the hostile environment Israeli athletes navigate simply for representing their country, a reality that should concern anyone who values fairness and opposes antisemitism in international sports.
The Israel Olympic Committee has not issued a formal comment on the robbery, though the team departed from committee headquarters in late January for European training. Official bobsled training sessions are scheduled to begin February 12, giving investigators limited time to recover stolen items before competition commences. The robbery also highlights security vulnerabilities when athletes stay in non-secured temporary housing during pre-Games preparation, particularly for those from nations facing geopolitical backlash. While the perpetrators’ motives remain unknown pending investigation, the targeting of identifiable Israeli Olympians during a period of heightened anti-Israel activism raises questions about whether this was opportunistic crime or something more sinister tied to their nationality.
Sources:
Israeli bobsled team’s apartment robbed ahead of Milan Winter Games, says athlete – Times of Israel
Israeli bobsled team apartment robbed ahead of Winter Olympics, competitor says – Fox News
