New Delhi: The women’s football competition of the Paris Olympics 2024 will see defending champions Canada take on New Zealand. However, the pre-game drama has made headlines after a complaint from the New Zealand Olympic Committee during a training session before the games. The NZOC reported to the police that a drone was observed flying over a Ferns training session. The report led to the authorities detaining the operator, identified as a support member of the Canadian team.
The Canadian Olympic Committee reported that a separate drone incident at a New Zealand training session on July 19 also came to everyone’s attention. This has led Canadian coach Bev Prietman to remove herself from observing Thursday’s game against New Zealand. COC further stated that Joseph Lombardi, an “unaccredited analyst” and Jasmine Mander, a coach who observes Lombardi have now been removed from the team and were being sent home. COC also mentioned that the entire Canadian football staff will undergo compulsory ethics training.
COC had already issued an apology after confirming that their staff had used a drone to record New Zealand’s players during their practice session. Priestman herself reassured that they don’t stand by such “values” and hence had decided to withdraw as the coach of the team for the game.
However, this won’t be the first time that Canada has been caught in the offensive for using drones to film their opponents during a training session. Back in 2021, they were caught spying on Honduras through a drone in Toronto before the two teams clashed for the men’s World Cup qualifier.
In the Paris Games, drones have been a constant source of contention. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that, on average, six drones have been seized at the Olympic sites. These are mostly by tourists who are trying to capture the event. He reassured that the systems were in place for the smooth running of the events. Stephane Groen, France’s general in charge of air defence, further said that unauthorised drones would be “jammed.”
Taking swift actions against the complaint lodged by New Zealand Olympic Committee, Canadian Olympic Committee have now sent home two of their coaching staff related to the drone spying controversy during training. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
