Entertainment
Olympics Announcer Faces Outrage Over Ceremony Errors
Clear Facts
- Italian broadcaster Paolo Petrecca faced criticism for several mistakes during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
- Petrecca was removed from commentary for the closing ceremony after a meeting with Rai’s CEO.
- RaiSport journalists announced plans for strike actions following the conclusion of the Games.
During the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan, RaiSport director Paolo Petrecca made several notable on-air errors that sparked strong reactions from both viewers and colleagues.
One of Petrecca’s mistakes included misidentifying actress Matilda De Angelis as singer Mariah Carey.
“Please, call me Mariah.”
This response was posted by De Angelis on Instagram after the incident.
Petrecca also welcomed audiences to Stadio Olimpico, incorrectly stating its location as Rome, while the opening ceremony took place at San Siro stadium in Milan.
Additionally, he confused the International Olympic Committee’s chief, Kirsty Coventry, for the Italian president’s daughter during the event.
Following these errors, RaiSport journalists announced plans for protest measures, including strikes to be held after the Games end on February 22.
“We have all been embarrassed, no one excluded, and through no fault of our own,”
read a statement from the journalists’ union, calling this the worst-ever showing for RaiSport during a major event.
Petrecca had stepped into the commentary role after Auro Bulbarelli exited, following Bulbarelli’s previous on-air misstep regarding the surprise entrance of President Sergio Mattarella.
While tensions have eased for now, Rai employees expect further fallout after the Olympics conclude.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Mark
February 10, 2026 at 7:13 pm
Just imagine if he had said that a mother tried to kill an ICE agent in Minneapolis when in fact she was driving away from him; or had actually “run him over”; or that an ER nurse there was “brandishing” a gun when ICE agents shot him dead …
Al Abama
February 10, 2026 at 7:30 pm
If he HAD said those things he would have been telling the truth ! Of course you wouldn’t have known that because like the rest of you woke demonrats you don’t have any idea about what the truth really is .