Rai Sport journalists withdraw bylines through end of Milan Cortina Olympics

Journalists at Rai Sport announced a strike package on Monday, withdrawing their bylines from all services, live reports, and commentary broadcasts through the conclusion of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The action, which began at 5 p.m., was announced by the editorial board and union representative of Rai Sport's Milan office. Staff requested that a union statement be read across all Olympic newscasts and morning and evening Olympic programming.

In their statement, the journalists said they had been "in discomfort for three days, all of us without exception and not through our own fault." They cited what they described as "the worst image ever of Raisport" during one of the most anticipated events, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The staff said the withdrawal of signatures was intended to make the company "finally aware of the damage" caused by the Rai Sport director to viewers who pay the license fee, to Rai as a company, and to the entire Rai Sport newsroom.

The dispute centers on events during the opening ceremony broadcast. Rai Chief Executive Officer Giampaolo Rossi met with Rai Sport Director Paolo Petrecca on Monday afternoon and requested that both Petrecca and the newsroom assume responsibility for what occurred during the opening ceremony commentary and regarding relations within the editorial team.

Rossi's office also called on the newsroom and union representatives to avoid instrumentalization or personal disputes during a period when Rai is under global scrutiny. The company stated it remained open to dialogue to resolve genuine problems. Following the meeting, union representatives were scheduled to be convened.

The strike package announcement came after Rossi's meeting with Petrecca and represents an escalation of tensions within the broadcaster's Olympic coverage operations.