Finance
Italy's RAI apologises after latest gaffe targets Israeli bobsleigh team
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 21, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 21, 2026
Tags:corporate governance
Quick Summary
RAI apologised after an off‑air voice urged avoiding the Israeli bobsleigh crew before a Milano Cortina 2026 event. CEO Giampaolo Rossi opened an inquiry; Rai Sport’s chief had already resigned over opening‑ceremony gaffes.
Italy’s RAI apologizes after off-air remark about Israeli bobsleigh team
By Andrea Mandala
RAI Apology and Governance Fallout
MILAN, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Italy's state broadcaster RAI was forced to apologise to the Jewish community on Saturday after an off‑air remark advising its producers to "avoid" the Israeli crew was broadcast before coverage of the Four-Man bobsleigh event at the Winter Olympics.
Leadership turmoil at Rai Sport
The head of RAI's sports division had already resigned earlier in the week after his error-ridden commentary at the Milano Cortina 2026 opening ceremony two weeks ago triggered a revolt among its journalists.
Off-air remark aired on Rai 2
On Saturday, viewers heard "Let's avoid crew number 21, which is the Israeli one" and then "no, because ..." before the sound was cut off.
RAI CEO Giampaolo Rossi said the incident represented a "serious" breach of the principles of impartiality, respect and inclusion that should guide the public broadcaster.
Internal inquiry and board response
He added that RAI had opened an internal inquiry to swiftly determine any responsibility and any potential disciplinary procedures.
In a separate statement RAI's board of directors condemned the remark as "unacceptable".
Apology to affected groups
The board apologised to the Jewish community, the athletes involved and all viewers who felt offended.
RAI is the country's largest media organisation and operates national television, radio and digital news services.
Union backlash over credibility
The union representing RAI journalists, Usigrai, had said Paolo Petrecca's opening ceremony commentary had dealt "a serious blow" to the company's credibility.
Commentary errors highlighted
His missteps included misidentifying venues and public figures, and making comments about national teams that were widely criticised.
(Reporting by Andrea Mandalà; Editing by Alison Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •An off‑air instruction to avoid Israel’s bobsleigh crew aired before a Four‑Man event broadcast.
- •RAI issued a public apology and launched an internal inquiry into the incident.
- •CEO Giampaolo Rossi condemned the remark as a breach of impartiality and inclusion standards.
- •The controversy follows earlier opening‑ceremony gaffes that led Rai Sport’s chief to resign.
- •The episode raises concerns over editorial controls and reputational risk at Italy’s public broadcaster.
Frequently Asked Questions about Italy's RAI apologises after latest gaffe targets Israeli bobsleigh team
1What is the main topic?
Italy’s public broadcaster RAI apologised after an off‑air instruction to avoid the Israeli bobsleigh team was accidentally aired before a Winter Olympics event, prompting an internal inquiry.
2What action did RAI take after the incident?
RAI issued a formal apology to viewers and the athletes and opened an internal investigation to determine responsibility and potential disciplinary measures.
3How does this relate to earlier issues at RAI?
The apology comes days after gaffe‑ridden opening‑ceremony commentary at Milano Cortina 2026 led Rai Sport’s chief to resign, intensifying scrutiny of RAI’s editorial standards.