PARIS − The Olympic flame has yet to be lit at the Paris Games, but the first scandal of espionage is underway.
The Canadian Olympic Committee announced Tuesday it has sent home an assistant women’s soccer coach and an analyst with Canada Soccer after accusations of spying on an opponent. The New Zealand women’s soccer team said its training session was disrupted Tuesday by a drone − a drone operated by a staff member of the Canadian’s women’s soccer team.
In a statement, the Canadian Olympic Committee acknowledged there have been two incidents of drone flying in the city of Saint-Étienne, where the two teams are set to play Thursday. The COC has removed assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi from the team.
The COC also said it accepted head coach Bev Priestman’s decision to not coach the team in Thursday’s game. Canada Soccer staff will undergo mandatory ethics training.
What happened with the drone at soccer training?
After the incident involving the drone July 22, the drone operator was detained by police, according to the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC).
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‘Team support members immediately reported the incident to police, leading to the drone operator, who has been identified as a support staff member of the wider Canadian Women’s football team, to be detained,’ the NZOC said in a statement.
The International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit also was informed of the incident, according to NZOC.
‘The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair-play and we are shocked and disappointed,’’ the committee said in a statement. “We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.’’
The NZOC and New Zealand Football said they were “deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident.’’
“At this time the NZOC’s main priority is to support the New Zealand women’s football athletes and wider team as they start their campaign,’’ they said in a statement.
Canada is the reigning Olympic champion and won back-to-back bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.