Paolo Petrecca has resigned as director of Rai Sport, placing the mandate back in the hands of CEO Giampaolo Rossi. Rai announced this with an official note released on Thursday 19 February, the same day on which the Board of Directors met to decide the fate of the director.
His successor, on a transitional basis and at the end of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, will be deputy director Marco Lollobrigida, awaiting a final decision from CEO Rossi.
The resignation comes after weeks of escalating tensions. At the center of the controversy was the commentary of the Milan-Cortina Opening Ceremony, deemed a disaster and a source of great embarrassment for the newspaper. Petrecca had already been distrusted twice by the editorial staff’s journalists, who contested both his organizational choices and the selection of collaborators sent to cover the Games. Harsh criticism had also come from Usigrai, the Rai journalists’ union, which had proclaimed a strike, attracting massive support throughout the company.
Who will host the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games?
Despite the pressure, Petrecca had shown no intention of stepping aside — until today. In the meantime, Rai had already taken action by entrusting the commentary of the Closing Ceremony to Auro Bulbarelli on 22 February, the journalist who was also supposed to take care of the opening, in an attempt to stem the image damage caused by the previous management.
Auro Bulbarelli will not be alone however, for the Closing Ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympics, the Rai journalist will be joined by the Veronese soprano Cecilia Gasdia, Superintendent of the Verona Arena Foundation, a figure strongly supported by the Undersecretary of Culture Gianmarco Mazzi. Also in the studio was the writer Fabio Genovesi, who was already present during the opening commentary, where he had tried – with appreciated results – to give depth and narrative color to the evening’s story.
Bulbarelli’s choice is not without irony. The journalist had been removed from his role as commentator for the opening after having committed a significant gaffe: he had anticipated live the presence of Sergio Mattarella as a surprise guest at the opening ceremony, revealing that the President of the Republic would make a cameo alongside Valentino Rossi. An attempt to create suspense and curiosity that turned into a boomerang, triggering an avalanche of criticism. Now Bulbarelli has the opportunity to close on a high note an Olympic edition which, at least on the Rai communications front, has experienced more than a few turbulences.
Closing ceremony Milan-Cortina 2026: when and where to see it
The event is set for Sunday 22 February, starting at 8pm. The time was chosen to take place after the last Olympic competitions of the day, including some of the most anticipated finals of the entire programme.
The ceremony will last approximately three and a half hours, in line with the major closing events of the most recent Olympic editions. As tradition dictates, the evening will accompany spectators in a gradual transition from the competitive atmosphere of the Games to the more solemn and symbolic farewell atmosphere: the athletes’ parade, the official speeches, the switching off of the Olympic brazier and the handover of the 2030 French Alps Winter Games.
In Italy the live broadcast will be broadcast by Rai, while internationally the ceremony will reach the public through the main broadcasters around the world.
