Paolo Petrecca gaffe: Franco Bragagna’s tacks, voice of 17 ceremonies

The disquisitions over Paolo Petrecca’s commentary during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics continue unabated. There’s a lot of outrage over what happened, with several accusations against state television for making a choice deemed not up to the’importance of the event. It should be remembered that, in fact, Paolo Petrecca was not scheduled: the commentary had been entrusted to Auro Bulbarelli, a longtime sports journalist and former director of Rai Sport. However, the early dissemination of the news about the presence of President Sergio Mattarella would have triggered a sudden change.

Fabrizio Ponciroli

Then, as is well known, the commentary came under endless criticism. There was no shortage of inaccuracies. Paolo Petrecca, a Lazio fan, mentioned the Stadio Olimpico in Rome instead of San Siro. Shortly afterwards he confused Matilda De Angelis with Mariah Carey, stars of the show at different times. He then mistook IOC President Kirsty Coventry for President Mattarella’s daughter. A joke he made about the sequence dedicated to Verdi, Rossini and Puccini also caused discussion: “If Puccini had been called Bianchini we would have had Rossini, Bianchini and Verdi to represent the colors of our flag.”

Franco Bragagna, commentator for RAI for no less than 17 Olympic ceremonies, commented on the matter: “Don&#8220t embarrass me. There’s a phrase by Andreotti that sums up what I think: if you can”t speak well of it, say nothing” his words to Corriere della Sera. The seasoned and experienced Franco Bragagna, 35 years at state TV, then gave an “advice” fruit of his long experience: “For such an event you must not have regional casts. The host has to speak clean Italian because everyone has to identify. And then you have to be prepared from life. Sports, geopolitics, culture: you have to have it all in you, it has to be a passion that you cultivate. You have to study because the opening ceremony of the Games is full of twists and turns and you have to have the antibodies”.

A clear and professional stance. Franco Bragagna goes even further, especially when he dwells on the fact that so many sports torchbearers were not recognized. While highlighting how it is by no means simple, he explained how “You cannot recognize only Paola Egonu“.

In short, former commentator Franco Bragagna, now a TV pundit, points the finger at a lack of preparation and “a huge overestimation of self” by Paolo Petrecca. Coming from someone who has been the voice of as many as 17 Olympic ceremonies, it is clear that it carries considerable specific weight.