Rai Sport Staff to Withdraw Bylines in Protest Over Olympic Coverage
A growing controversy is engulfing Italy’s national broadcaster, Rai, as staff at Rai Sport announced they will withdraw their bylines from all programming beginning today, February 9th, 2026, at 5:00 PM local time, and continuing until the end of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The move is a protest against what they describe as damaging and embarrassing coverage of the Games’ opening ceremony, specifically citing the performance of Rai Sport’s director, Paolo Petrecca.
The protest was announced in a joint statement from the Rai Sport CDR (Committee for Professional Journalists) and the network’s union representative. According to the statement, the entire Rai Sport team has been “embarrassed” by the coverage, which they attribute not to their own work, but to the leadership of Petrecca. They argue that his direction has caused damage to the public broadcaster, to the viewers who pay the license fee, and to the reputation of Rai Sport itself.
“From today at 5:00 PM, we are withdrawing our signature from services, links, and commentary until the company finally realizes the damage that the director of Rai Sport has caused, in order: to the viewers who pay the license fee, to Rai as a company, and to all of Rai Sport who are working with passion on this great event,” the statement reads. The staff emphasized that this is not a political issue, but rather a matter of “respect and dignity for public service broadcasting.”
The protest comes after a series of errors and questionable comments during the opening ceremony coverage, which sparked widespread criticism across Italy. ANSA reported that mistakes were made in identifying athletes and performers during the live broadcast, leading to public outcry.
In addition to withdrawing their bylines, the Rai Sport staff have requested that a union statement be read during all Olympic news broadcasts, including “Mattina Olimpica” and “Notti Olimpiche.” Following the conclusion of the Games, they plan to implement a three-day strike, a mandate already approved by the editorial staff after what they described as a “double rejection” of the director’s editorial plan.
The situation at Rai is unfolding against a backdrop of broader unrest surrounding the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Italy.news reports that the opening ceremony itself, while well-received by international audiences, has ignited a fierce political debate within Italy.
Further complicating matters, protests against the Games turned violent in Milan on Saturday, February 7th, 2026, with demonstrators clashing with police and allegedly damaging property. CNN reported that protesters voiced opposition to the environmental impact of constructing Olympic venues, as well as the perceived “economic and social harm” caused by the Games. The protest was organized by the Unsustainable Olympics Committee, a coalition of various activist groups.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the protesters, labeling them “enemies of Italy and Italians” in a social media post. She also expressed solidarity with the police and the city of Milan.
Adding to the security concerns, authorities are investigating what they are calling “serious sabotage” of railway lines in northern Italy. MSN reported that the sabotage caused significant travel disruption. Italy has opened a terrorism investigation into the incidents, with officials fearing coordinated attacks. The Globe and Mail detailed that the sabotage involved burned or cut infrastructure, impacting rail traffic across the region.
The combination of the Rai Sport staff protest, the violent demonstrations, and the railway sabotage presents a significant challenge for Italian authorities as the Winter Olympics get underway. The situation underscores the deep divisions within Italian society regarding the Games and the government’s handling of security and public dissent.
