Return to the starting point. Auro Bulbarelli will host the RAI commentary of the closing ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The journalist was initially entrusted with commenting on the opening event, but had to step aside after having spoiled the surprise appearance of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
Hence the choice of Rai Sport director Paolo Petrecca to try his hand at commentary which has caused countless controversies. Rai therefore took action, fishing Bulbarelli for the event scheduled for Sunday 22 February at the Verona Arena. Joining him will be the writer Fabio Genovesi and the soprano Cecilia Gasdia, superintendent of the Arena. An obvious decision according to the CDR of the newspaper, who has decided to withdraw the signatures until the end of the Olympics and now expects a clear stance from the company, under penalty of declaring a three-day strike once the event is over.
Climate remains tense: the football World Cup is on the horizon
«Changing commentators was inevitable after what happened – writes the committee in an internal communication to colleagues -, but the editorial staff must also be able to face the next important events with serenity and for this reason radical choices are necessary capable of restoring credibility and prestige to all of Rai Sport». The message is clear, also because the Paralympics and the football World Cup are on the horizon and the climate remains very tense. The expectation is that Petrecca will resign at the end of the Games or, in any case, be removed. The director is supported by Fratelli d’Italia, but via della Scrofa would have noted that his confirmation would be complicated, given the outcry caused by the affair. Especially since the editorial team has raised new doubts about its management of Rai Sport, both for the increase in 2025 in costs for external collaborations from 1.7 to 2.3 million euros, in the face of a cut on comments on events, and for having given space in the hosting of programs and how they are sent to influencers who would then advertise with the Rai brand on their social channels.
Usigrai: “They took no decision in the face of an absolutely serious fact”
«We ask that the company takes responsibility for what happened, which has not yet happened – states the secretary Usigrai, Daniele Macheda -. They took no decision in the face of a fact of absolute gravity.” The union representatives were dissatisfied with the position taken by the CEO Giampaolo Rossi who, after meeting Petrecca, asked both the director and the cdr to assume responsibility, and are now waiting for a replacement to be made. Among those most accredited with the succession is the deputy director Marco Lollobrigida, a figure of continuity, appreciated for his mediation skills. On the other hand, Marco Franzelli, the historic face of Tg1 and Rai Sport, would represent a more disruptive choice and, thanks to his organizational skills, is considered an authoritative bridging solution, having to retire in the autumn. Petrecca could be made available for the moment, also because it is feared that the immediate assignment of a new direction could lead to a domino effect on other boxes in a delicate phase. In fact, we are waiting to know whether the majority will actually move forward on the governance reform, which should be implemented in the Senate in March and could also lead to an early dismissal of the current board of directors. The deadline would be set for next year, but the top body of public television continues to be without a president since the beginning of the mandate.