An Italian Winter Olympics broadcaster who was on the mic for the opening ceremony before the Milan Cortina Games began last week faced immense backlash and a strike call for numerous blunders during the show.

RaiSport director Paolo Petrecca had a night to forget after misidentifying singer Mariah Carey, mistaking the Olympics’ chief as the Italian president’s daughter and confusing the location of the opening ceremony were among some of the things that distressed fans and, apparently, journalists at the company.

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RaiSport journalists announced Monday that they would adopt protest measures, including strikes, once the Winter Olympics were over on Feb. 22.

A spokesperson for Rai, the Italian state-owned network that is broadcasting free-to-air coverage of its home Games, told The Associated Press that Petrecca was removed from commentary for the closing ceremony after meeting with CEO Giampaolo Rossi.

Petrecca welcomed viewers to Stadio Olimpico, which is located in Rome. The opening ceremony took place in the iconic soccer stadium, San Siro.

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Italian actor Matilda De Angelis performs during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

“The show continues with Mariah Carey,” Petrecca said as the camera panned to actress Matilda De Angelis. The actress took it in stride, writing in a subsequent Instagram post, “Please, call me Mariah.”

Italian President Sergio Mattarella walked into the stadium with International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry to applause. The two were near U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha. Mattarella described Coventry as Mattarella’s daughter.

“We have all been embarrassed, no one excluded, and through no fault of our own,” a statement from the journalists’ union, Comitato di Redazione, read. “It is time to make our voices heard because we are facing the worst-ever figure of RaiSport in one of the most eagerly awaited events ever.”

The union said there would be three days of strikes after the Games were complete.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry, left, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, center, wave during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Petrecca was thrust into the commentary role, replacing Auro Bulbarelli, who removed himself after spoiling the surprise arrival of Mattarella aboard one of the city’s trams.

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For now, the anger appeared to have simmered but is expected to boil.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Pakistan will face South Africa in a three-match women’s T20I series, commencing today (Tuesday). This is Pakistan Women’s first tour of South Africa for a bilateral series since 2021, according to a PCB statement.

The T20Is will be staged on February 10, 13 and 16, with matches scheduled to start at 9pm Pakistan time.

Pakistan’s 15-member squad is captained by Fatima Sana, while Laura Wolvaardt will lead the home side.

In the build-up to the series, Pakistan held a week-long pre-series camp in Karachi, which included practice sessions and scenario-based matches.

The squad features two uncapped players for Pakistan, with pacer Humna Bilal and batter Saira Jabeen braced for their T20I debuts.

The series provides both sides with an opportunity to finalise preparations for the 12-team ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, set to take place from June 12 to July 5 in England and Wales.

In head-to-head, in 24 T20I matches, South Africa have an upper hand against Pakistan, but Pakistan had swept the series by three-nil against South Africa when the two sides met in Karachi in 2023.

For Pakistan, in the current squad, in the batting department, Aliya Riaz has featured in 15 T20Is against South Africa, scoring 321 runs at a strike rate of 122.98.

In the bowling unit, left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal has played six matches, claiming 10 wickets at an economy rate of 6.66.

15-member squad:

Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza (wicket-keeper), Humna Bilal, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Sidra Amin, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani.

Tour itinerary

1st T20I – Feb 10 — JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (day/night)

2nd T20I – Feb 13 – Willowmoore Park, Benoni (day/night)

3rd T20I – Feb 16 – Kimberley Oval, Kimberley (day/night)