The broadcasting director responsible for a series of blunders during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics has resigned.
According to reports from the BBC and other international media outlets on Friday, Paolo Petrecca, the director of Italy’s national sports channel Rai Sport, recently tendered his resignation.
Petrecca, who personally handled the live broadcast, made several elementary mistakes that are astonishing for someone in his position.
First, he confused the name of the stadium hosting the opening ceremony. Despite the event taking place at the San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan, Petrecca erroneously referred to it as the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Furthermore, when the camera focused on renowned Italian actress Matilda De Angelis, he incorrectly announced that Mariah Carey’s performance was next. Given that Carey is over 25 years older than De Angelis and a global pop icon, this mix-up is particularly baffling.
He even failed to recognize the Olympic’s highest-ranking official. When Italian President Sergio Mattarella and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Chair Kirsty Coventry entered together, he misidentified them as President Mattarella and his daughter.
Additionally, Petrecca mistook the captain of the Italian volleyball team, who was serving as a torchbearer, for a female athlete.
Some of his comments also raised concerns about racial insensitivity and national stereotyping, such as suggesting that Brazilians have music in their blood or making references to African voodoo rituals.
While it’s true that Petrecca was a last-minute replacement for the broadcast, which may explain some of his lack of preparation, the magnitude of his errors significantly tarnished the reputation of Rai, a public broadcaster with a viewership share exceeding 46%. The fact that this subpar coverage was broadcast globally has made it difficult for him to avoid criticism.
In response, the Rai Sport journalists’ union announced that no reporters or commentators would have their names attached to articles until the conclusion of the Winter Olympics. They also declared a three-day strike following the event’s closure.
It appears that this union action ultimately led to Petrecca’s resignation. Marco Lollobrigida, one of Rai’s top sports presenters, is slated to succeed him.