The Canadian Olympic Committee has tendered an apology after a Canada Soccer staff member allegedly flew a drone to view one of the New Zealand women’s football team training sessions.
The incident occurred on Monday, July 22, 2024, in St Etienne, ahead of the clash between New Zealand and Canada on Thursday, July 25, 2024.
Both nations are housed in Group A and their upcoming meeting will be the opening game for the women’s football event at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
France and Colombia are the other two teams present in Group A alongside Canada and New Zealand.
New Zealand Report Drone Operator To The Police
Moreover, the New Zealand Olympic Committee shared that it subsequently reported the incident to the police, resulting in the drone operator being detained.
They also noted in the statement the apology of Canada, before adding that they are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games”
Additionally, the New Zealand Olympic Committee expressed that they “are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident.”
Meanwhile, in concluding their statement, New Zealand further wrote: “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.”
Canada Tender Apology To New Zealand
In the apology statement made by the Canadian Olympic Committee, they confirmed that the “non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team” was apprehended by authorities.
The statement reads: “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.”
Moreover, Canada also made it known that they are examining their next line of action with the International Olympic Committee, Paris 2024, Canada Soccer, and FIFA.
They also informed the public that an update will be shared on Wednesday, July 24, 2025.
Update On Canada-New Zealand Drone Saga
An update has indeed come to the fore, as Canada have sent two staff members home as a result of the drone incident.
Due to the decision, reports indicate that Canada women’s football manager Beverly Priestman, will not handle her side’s Olympics opener against New Zealand.
This is due to two members of her backroom staff being sent home for allegedly flying a drone over the Kiwis’ team training session.
Priestman’s assistant, Jasmine Mander, alongside “unaccredited analyst” Joseph Lombardi have been shown the exit door, as their tournament has unfortunately ended before it even started.
It is expected that British tactician Beverly Priestman, who led Canada to Olympic glory in 2021, will return to the dugout for the country’s second group game against France on July 28, 2024.
As earlier indicated, she has exempted herself from Canada’s opening group game, having seen her subordinates sent home from France.
Canada And New Zealand At The Summer Olympics
The Canadians come into the tournament as defending champions, having defeated Sweden 3-2 in Tokyo via penalties following a 1-1 draw in normal time and extra time.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the last summer Olympics had to be pushed forward to 2021 and Canada fully accentuated their brilliance at the tournament.
On the other hand, New Zealand were dumped out in Group G, having finished bottom of a group that included Australia, the USA, and finalists Sweden.
New Zealand didn’t secure a point in all their 3 group matches, as they were the whooping girls of the group, exiting the competition with a -8 goal difference, having conceded 10 goals and scored 2 goals.
It will be fascinating to see how they fare against the defending champions on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in a game that is expected to be highly intense and combative.
The New Zealand women’s national football team have appeared at the Summer Olympics 4 times in the competition’s history, with their first outing being in 2008.
The country’s best result came in 2012 when they made it to the quarter-finals, before losing 2-0 to the United States.
Canada have also appeared at the Olympics on 4 different occasions, with their debut tournament being 2008.
Their best outing came in the 2020 Summer Olympics held in 2021 in which they won gold.
