The Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan was meant to be a celebration of athletic prowess and national pride, but for Italian viewers, it quickly became a source of bewildered amusement and then, simmering anger. A series of astonishing errors by one commentator threatened to overshadow the spectacle unfolding before their eyes.
Paolo Petrecca, a director at RaiSport, inexplicably welcomed the audience to the “Stadio Olimpico” – a famous Roman landmark – when the ceremony was actually taking place at the San Siro in Milan. This initial blunder was merely a prelude to a cascade of misidentifications and baffling statements.
The most viral moment arrived when the camera focused on Italian actress and singer Matilda De Angelis, a rising star in her own right. Petrecca, however, declared, “The show continues with Mariah Carey!” The internet exploded with reactions, and De Angelis herself playfully responded on social media, posting event photos with the caption: “PLEASE, CALL ME MARIAH.”
But the errors didn’t stop there. As Italian President Sergio Mattarella entered the stadium, Petrecca announced he was accompanied by “Mattarella… and his daughter.” In reality, the President was with Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee – a rather significant distinction.
Adding insult to injury, Petrecca also failed to recognize Italy’s own world champion men’s and women’s volleyball teams. The commentator’s performance, seemingly self-assigned at the last minute, sparked outrage among his colleagues at RaiSport.
Journalists responded with a powerful act of protest: they removed their bylines from all articles covering the Games. This silent demonstration of disapproval escalated into plans for a three-day strike following the conclusion of the Olympics, a clear signal of their deep embarrassment and frustration.
A statement from the journalist’s union articulated the collective sentiment: “For three days, we’ve all been embarrassed… through no fault of our own. It’s time to make our voices heard because we are facing the worst performance ever by Raisport during one of the most anticipated events of all time.”
Petrecca has since been relieved of his commentary duties for the closing ceremony, a move that, while welcomed, feels like a belated response to a series of errors that captivated – and dismayed – a nation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accuracy and professionalism, even amidst the excitement of a global event.
