Journalists from RaiSport, the sports division of Italy's state-owned broadcaster Rai, have announced a significant protest action, including planned strikes, following a series of highly embarrassing on-air blunders by their director and commentator Paolo Petrecca during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony. The internal union body representing the journalists declared that all reporters and commentators would withhold their bylines until the conclusion of the Games, with three days of strikes scheduled to follow, citing profound professional embarrassment.
Series of Gaffes Spark Outrage
The protest measures were triggered by a cascade of errors during Petrecca's commentary on Friday's opening event. In one notable mistake, he misidentified the iconic San Siro stadium, home to legendary football clubs Inter Milan and AC Milan, as the "Stadio Olimpico," which is actually a major arena located in Rome. This geographical confusion set the tone for further mishaps that left both viewers and colleagues cringing.
Celebrity and Official Misidentifications
Perhaps the most glaring error occurred when Petrecca announced, "The show continues with Mariah Carey," as the camera focused on Italian actress Matilda De Angelis. De Angelis, a well-known figure in Italy, is more than twenty-five years younger than the global superstar Mariah Carey. In a humorous response, De Angelis later posted photos from the ceremony on Instagram with the caption: "Please, call me Mariah."
Further compounding the embarrassment, when Italian President Sergio Mattarella entered the stadium alongside International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, Petrecca incorrectly introduced Coventry as "Mattarella ... and his daughter." This misidentification of a high-ranking Olympic official added to the growing list of professional failures.
Internal Backlash and Consequences
The Comitato di Redazione, the internal union representing RaiSport journalists, issued a strongly worded statement on Monday, expressing collective shame. "We have all been embarrassed, no one excluded, and through no fault of our own," the statement read. It emphasized that this represented "the worst-ever figure of RaiSport in one of the most eagerly awaited events ever," prompting the decision to make their voices heard through protest actions.
Removal and Additional Errors
Following a meeting on Monday afternoon with Rai CEO Giampaolo Rossi, a spokesperson confirmed that Petrecca has been removed from the commentary team for the February 22 closing ceremony. Notably, Petrecca was not originally scheduled to commentate on the opening ceremony; he stepped in to replace Auro Bulbarelli, who had withdrawn after inadvertently spoiling a planned surprise involving President Mattarella's arrival.
Petrecca's errors extended beyond celebrity and official misidentifications. He also failed to properly recognize Italy's world-champion volleyball teams during the torch relay segment. While naming one female athlete, he referred to the remaining five champions merely as "other torchbearers," overlooking the women's team's status as reigning Olympic champions. Men's captain Simone Giannelli responded sarcastically on Instagram with "Thanks to the commentators," accompanied by laughing-crying emojis.
Broader Implications for Broadcasting
This incident highlights significant concerns within Rai, which holds the free-to-air broadcasting rights for Italy's home Games. The journalists' strike and protest measures underscore deep-seated frustrations over professional standards and the broadcaster's reputation during a globally televised event. As the Winter Olympics continue, the fallout from these commentary blunders serves as a stark reminder of the pressures and scrutiny faced by media organizations in high-profile sporting contexts.
