A new sporting discipline at the Olympics: synchronized drone management in rival territory.
On the eve of the women's football tournament at the Paris Olympic Games, a scandal erupted. The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) accused Canada of deploying a drone to film its women's football team during practice.
The incident occurred on Monday in Saint-Étienne, where the New Zealand team was preparing for their first group stage match. NZOC representatives stated that a member of the Canadian team's support staff was controlling the drone, which flew over their training ground.
The New Zealand side immediately reported the violation to local police. Authorities detained the drone operator, identified as a member of the extended Canadian women's football team.
The NZOC leadership expressed deep outrage over the incident.
“We have filed an official complaint with the integrity department of the International Olympic Committee and demand a full investigation from Canada. This is a matter of integrity and fair play,” the committee stated.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) responded to the accusations with surprise and disappointment.
“The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play. We are shocked and dismayed. We apologize to the New Zealand Football Association, all affected players, and the New Zealand Olympic Committee,” COC stated.
The Canadian side has initiated an internal investigation into the incident and promises to cooperate with the IOC, the Paris Olympics organizers, and FIFA to resolve the situation.
The teams from Canada and New Zealand are set to meet in the first round of the Olympic football tournament group stage on Thursday at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne. The Canadian team are the reigning Olympic champions, which adds intensity to the upcoming clash.
Source: Espn
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