politics
February 20, 2026
Meloni ally quits state TV job following Olympic gaffes
Italian state broadcaster RAI’s sports boss Paolo Petrecca has quit after a gaffe-filled commentary during the Olympics opening ceremony
TL;DR
- Paolo Petrecca, head of RAI's sports division, resigned after televised errors during the Olympics opening ceremony.
- Journalists had protested Petrecca's appointment due to alleged close ties with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, leading to accusations of 'TeleMeloni'.
- Petrecca's gaffes included mixing up venues, mistaking an actress for a singer, and confusing an IOC president.
- The journalists' union stated Petrecca's resignation would not fix the "enormous damage to the image and reputation of the company."
- Opposition figures linked Petrecca's appointment to the government prioritizing political affiliation over merit.
- Even before the Olympics, Petrecca reportedly had issues with editorial staff over spending and outsourcing plans.
- The Italian government rejected criticism, stating the broadcaster was previously dominated by the center-left.