Published 8 hours ago • loading... • Updated 50 minutes ago

Gaffe-Ridden Olympic Commentary Prompts Italy's Rai Sport Chief Petrecca to Resign

On Thursday, RAI said Paolo Petrecca, head of Rai Sport, had resigned and will leave his post after the Feb. 22 closing gala; he will not commentate the ceremony.
On Feb. 6, Rai Sport's head, Petrecca, made errors, including confusing Matilda De Angelis with Mariah Carey and welcoming viewers to Stadio Olimpico instead of San Siro.
The opening telecast drew 9.2 million viewers, yet provoked newsroom outrage as Usigrai and news journalists withdrew bylines and called strikes after the Games end on Sunday.
Parliament's RAI oversight chair Barbara Floridia summoned RAI's chief executive for questioning after Petrecca's resignation and the commentary errors.
Critics framed the episode as evidence of political influence at RAI, linking Petrecca's association with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the network's reputation as TeleMeloni.

Insights by Ground AI

20 Articles

Bild

Lean Right

Olympia: Tv Boss Throws After Commentator Blamage

TV boss Paolo Petrecca should lead Italy through the great Olympic night, pasted and is now rid of his job.

50 minutes ago·Berlin, Germany

Read Full Article

NRC Handelsblad

Lean Left

Italian Public Broadcaster's Sports Chief Resigns After Stereotypical Commentary Riddled with Errors

Italian public broadcaster Rai's sports chief resigned on Thursday over inappropriate comments made during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Italy.

2 hours ago·Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

Read Full Article

Politico Europe

Lean Left

Olympic gaffes force out Meloni ally at Italy’s Rai Sport

Paolo Petrecca’s resignation follows on-air blunders and remarks that drew accusations of stereotyping and criticism of the public broadcaster’s leadership.

3 hours ago·Brussels, Belgium

Read Full Article