Paolo Petrecca has resigned. © ANSA / FABIO CIMAGLIA / Z9A

After embarrassing comment: RAI sports director must go

Due to a whole series of errors in the live broadcast of the Olympic opening ceremony in Milan, the sports director of the Italian television station RAI, Paolo Petrecca, lost his job.

February 19, 2026

From: dpa

The 61-year-old submitted his resignation following widespread criticism, RAI announced. Unions had described the broadcast two weeks prior as a "disgrace" on the network's own channel and threatened to strike.

At the opening ceremony of the Winter Games in the San Siro stadium, the journalist repeatedly confused or failed to recognize people. For example, Petrecca mixed up US pop diva Mariah Carey, who gave a major performance, and the Italian actress Matilda De Angelis. He mistook IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who was sitting in the VIP box next to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, for his daughter. When the Brazilian team entered the stadium, he remarked that Brazilians simply had "dancing in their blood."

The case is also a matter of political concern.

Petrecca had taken the place of the originally scheduled commentator, whom the government had prevented from appearing on air due to an alleged indiscretion. He previously headed the news channel RAI24. Politically, he is considered to be in the camp of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The opposition has long accused the right-wing government of exerting influence over the public broadcaster, dubbing RAI "Telemeloni." Several prominent journalists have left the station since Meloni took office.

No longer RAI sports director: Paolo Petrecca © ANSA / FABIO FRUSTACI / Z23

In Italy, however, it was not unusual for political parties to interfere at the broadcaster even in the past. Governments of other political persuasions also exerted influence on the appointment of key personnel. A different journalist will now provide commentary for RAI at the closing ceremony in Verona on Sunday evening.