Paolo Petrecca, the head of sports at Italian public broadcaster RAI, has announced his resignation following a series of offensive remarks made by commentators during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. His comments included describing Spanish athletes as 'always sexy' and referring to Chinese athletes as 'Chinese with the phone in hand,' which sparked outrage and led to calls for his resignation. RAI stated that Petrecca would step down at the conclusion of the Olympics.

The backlash against Petrecca's comments prompted significant unrest within RAI, with sports journalists planning a three-day strike to protest what they deemed ‘the worst humiliation’ for Rai Sport. This incident has highlighted ongoing issues in sports media regarding cultural sensitivity and respect, further exacerbating tensions within the organization as the ceremony and its coverage were supposed to celebrate athletic excellence and cultural diversity.

As international focus turns to the Winter Olympics, this controversy risks overshadowing the event itself, as it brings to light the need for greater accountability in sports commentary. The fallout from these remarks poses questions about the management of broadcasting standards, particularly in a multi-cultural context, where the representation and respect for diverse cultures is paramount in sports reporting.