The chief of an Italian broadcasting company has been forced to step down following a massive outcry over his error-ridden, offensive commentary during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Paolo Petrecca has succumbed to pressure to resign after causing what nearly amounted to a national scandal in Italy.
Petrecca was the head of Rai Sport, Italy’s national broadcaster’s sports channel, the nation’s equivalent to the BBC. He tendered his resignation on Thursday when his colleagues staged a strike in response to his disastrous commentary during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
He stepped into the commentary box after the original commentator was dismissed for inadvertently revealing a surprise aspect of the opening ceremony. Despite only being appointed director of Rai Sport last year, Petrecca took over an audience of 9.2 million with little preparation.
His lack of readiness and experience became immediately apparent as he welcomed viewers to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, rather than San Siro in Milan, where the ceremony was actually being held. Things only deteriorated from there.
Petrecca confused Italian actress Matilda De Angelis with Mariah Carey and International Olympic Committee head Kirsty Coventry with President Sergio Mattarella’s daughter Laura. As further errors ensued, Italian social media was ablaze with complaints and jokes about the commentator’s performance.
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But matters deteriorated further as Petrecca delivered his controversial commentary throughout the ceremony. He confused Brazil’s delegation with Bulgaria before remarking that « dance is in their blood. »
He made references to African « voodoo rites », claimed Spaniards are « always very hot » and suggested the Chinese « naturally … have phones in their hands ». Whilst his disastrous performance went viral on social media, prompting some light-hearted reactions, anger erupted within Rai.
The broadcaster reassigned the closing ceremony to Auro Bulbarelli, the commentator who had been removed from opening ceremony duties, before Rai journalists launched strike action. Rai has been accused of promoting the agenda of Giorgia Meloni’s government, and Petrecca’s perceived closeness to the Brothers of Italy party has only compounded matters.
Three days following the debacle, Rai’s journalists released a statement. « For three days now, we have all been embarrassed, without exception and through no fault of our own, » the journalists’ union said in a statement.
« It is time to make our voices heard because we are facing the worst performance ever by Rai Sport during one of the most eagerly awaited events ever, the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. » A spokesperson for the Rai Sport journalists revealed they had requested Petrecca transfer the role to someone with greater expertise, only to have the suggestion dismissed. He has now resigned from his position, but only once the harm had already been inflicted.
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