"The head of the sports division of the Italian public broadcaster Rai has resigned after his gaffe-strewn commentary of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony provoked protests among its journalists. Paolo Petrecca, appointed director of Rai Sport last year, handed in his notice on Thursday after a board meeting, a source within Rai confirmed. The controversy has been seized upon by members of the Italian opposition, who called his appointment an example"
"During his commentary of the opening ceremony, Petrecca welcomed viewers to Rome's Stadio Olimpico instead of Milan's San Siro, where the event was held, before mistaking the Italian actor Matilda De Angelis for Mariah Carey and Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee, for Laura Mattarella, the daughter of the Italian president. Petrecca, who had already been barred from presenting coverage of the closing ceremony,"
Paolo Petrecca resigned as director of Rai Sport after a gaffe-strewn commentary of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony that provoked protests from Rai journalists. His commentary included misidentifying the venue, mistaking Italian actor Matilda De Angelis for Mariah Carey, confusing IOC president Kirsty Coventry with Laura Mattarella, and failing to recognise athletes in a torch relay. Rai Sport journalists withheld bylines and planned a three-day strike; colleagues across Rai withdrew bylines in solidarity. Opposition figures seized on the controversy, accusing the broadcaster of favouring political affiliation over merit because of Petrecca's allegiance to Giorgia Meloni. Petrecca was barred from closing-ceremony coverage and will step down at the end of the Games.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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