In a recent debacle surrounding the Italian Olympic broadcasts, Rai Sports chief Paolo Petrecca appointed himself as the commentator for the opening ceremony, leading to a series of costly blunders. The broadcast began with a misplaced introduction, claiming that the event was taking place at the Olympic Stadium, instead of the actual location at San Siro Stadium in Milan. This misstatement set the tone for a series of errors throughout the event.

As the ceremony progressed, Petrecca further embarrassed himself by misidentifying well-known figures. He introduced Italian actress Matilda De Angelis as the famous singer Mariah Carey, leading to widespread disbelief among viewers. Such mistakes not only undermined the credibility of the broadcast but ignited a wave of public criticism directed at Petrecca, reflecting poorly on the state broadcaster Rai.

In light of the overwhelming backlash, Petrecca was left with little choice but to resign from his position. This incident highlights not only the challenges faced by public broadcasters during high-profile events but also raises questions about internal accountability and professionalism within the management of major broadcasting organizations, particularly when they are representing their country on a global stage.