New Zealand report Canada to IOC after drone incident
New Zealand’s Olympic Committee (NZOC) says it has lodged a report with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about a team from Canada.
It said this was because its women’s football team had their training session disrupted by a drone flown by a staff member of the Canadian team.
New Zealand face Canada in a Group A match of the competition on Thursday.
“On Monday, a drone was flown over the New Zealand women’s football team training session in St Etienne,” the NZOC said on Tuesday. “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 incident was immediately reported to the IOC integrity unit, and Team Canada has since apologised and was said to be investigating, the NZOC said.
“The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident,” the statement said.
The incident occurred just three days before the sides are due to face each other in their opening game of the Paris Games.
“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,” the Committee said in a statement.
The Canadian Olympic Committee, on its part, said it was informed of the incident involving “a non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team.”
It added that it was “reviewing next steps with the IOC, Paris 2024, Canada Soccer and FIFA.”
“The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed.
“We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee,” it said in a statement.
(Reuters/NAN)
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