Paolo Petrecca, the director of RAI Sport, has stepped down from his position after facing severe backlash for his poor moderation of the Olympics opening ceremony and accusations of financial waste. His resignation comes at a time when RAI is under scrutiny for its coverage of such major events, which are pivotal for sports broadcasting in Italy.

Petrecca's decision to personally host the opening ceremony event backfired after his colleague Auro Bulbarelli inadvertently disclosed sensitive information regarding the attendance of Italian President Mattarella, which reportedly led to Petrecca's appointment to the role being questioned. During the Olympic coverage, viewers expressed dissatisfaction with both the presentation and the production quality, marking a significant misstep for RAI Sport, which aims to maintain its reputation in sports broadcasting.

In the interim, Marco Lollobrigida, the deputy director, has taken over the responsibilities of RAI Sport. The situation highlights the challenges faced by sports media outlets in delivering high-quality coverage while managing personnel and production pressures, particularly during high-stakes international events like the Olympics. This incident could potentially lead to further changes within RAI Sport's management structure in response to public and internal feedback.