MILAN, Italy – The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo concluded with a closing ceremony telecast on February 22nd, featuring commentator Auro Bulbarelli at the helm for Rai Sport. Bulbarelli’s assignment came after a period of internal upheaval at the Italian broadcaster, stemming from issues involving former director of Rai Sport, Paolo Petrecca.
The ceremony, held at the Arena di Verona, marked the end of the Games. Bulbarelli, an experienced journalist, was joined by soprano Cecilia Gasdia, the superintendent of the Arena di Verona, and writer Fabio Genovesi, a Rai opinionist specializing in cycling, who also appeared at the opening ceremony.
The shift to Bulbarelli followed a situation where Petrecca was initially slated to commentate on both the opening and closing ceremonies. However, Petrecca was removed from the opening ceremony duties after revealing information about President Sergio Mattarella’s planned attendance prior to the official announcement – an act described as an “spoiler.” Petrecca was then replaced by his superior, director Paolo Petrecca, for the opening ceremony telecast.
The situation at Rai Sport has been turbulent in recent weeks, marked by strikes and resignations. The change in commentators for the closing ceremony is a direct result of these internal issues. The controversy surrounding Petrecca, and the subsequent fallout, led to Bulbarelli being chosen to lead the broadcast team for the final event of the Games.
Burbarelli previously commentated on cycling events. His selection was seen by some as a move to stabilize the broadcast after the issues surrounding Petrecca. The telecast aimed to provide a smooth and gaffe-free conclusion to the Olympic coverage, a contrast to some of the earlier issues experienced by Rai Sport during the Games.
The closing ceremony itself was described as a cinematic and scenic production, with Bulbarelli noting that the broadcast team would largely allow the visuals to speak for themselves. This approach was a deliberate attempt to avoid further controversy and focus on the spectacle of the event.
The selection of Bulbarelli represents a reset for Rai Sport following a challenging period. The broadcaster will now look ahead to future sporting events, hoping to avoid similar disruptions. The incident highlights the pressures and complexities of live event broadcasting, particularly during high-profile events like the Olympic Games.
As the Olympic flame is extinguished in Milan and Cortina, attention now turns to the next Winter Games. The closing ceremony, and the commentary team led by Auro Bulbarelli, provided a final chapter to a Games marked by both athletic achievement and broadcasting drama.
The next scheduled event for many of the athletes will be their respective World Championship competitions in their individual sports, beginning in March. Fans can follow updates and schedules on the official Olympic website: https://olympics.com/
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