Italy’s Top Sports Journalists Plan to Strike Over Anchor’s Olympics Gaffes

Sports journalists at Rai plan a three-day strike and will withhold bylines from Olympic coverage after Paolo Petrecca, the broadcaster’s sports director, made a string of errors while commentating on the opening ceremonies. The union said the walkout will begin immediately after the Games end on Feb.

22. Petrecca, who has worked at Rai since 2001 and has led the sports division for ten months, opened the broadcast by calling Milan’s San Siro the “Olympic Stadium.” He described International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry as the daughter of President Sergio Mattarella, misidentified Italian actress Matilda De Angelis as Mariah Carey, failed to recognize two torchbearers from the women’s volleyball team, and mistook Brazil’s delegation for Bulgaria before remarking that “dance is in their blood.” The journalists’ union, protesting what it called “the worst performance ever by Rai Sport,” said: “For three days now, we have all been embarrassed, without exception and through no fault of our own.” Commentators also noted Mr.

Italy, Milan

rai, paolo petrecca, sports journalists, strike, olympics, opening ceremony, san siro, kirsty coventry, matilda de, journalists union