CANADA and New Zealand are locked in a huge Olympics “spying” row – after a drone was used to infiltrate a training session.
French police have arrested one member of reigning women’s football champions Canada’s support staff after the Kiwis reported the spying drone hovering above their base in St Etienne.
The two teams meet in their group opener in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, the scene of Michael Owen’s 1998 World Cup wonder goal against Argentina, tomorrow.
But New Zealand made a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit and demanded a full explanation from the Canadians.
In a statement, the Kiwis 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, which occurred just three days before the sides are due to face each other in their opening game of Paris 2024.
“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 Canadian Olympic Committee said they had been “made aware” that a “non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team” had been arrested and detained following the complaint.
It added: “The staff member is believed to have been using a drone to record the New Zealand football team during practice.
“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.
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“We are reviewing next steps with the IOC, Parius 2024, Canada Soccer and Fifa.”
The Canadian squad includes nine Women’s Super League players including Chelsea’s Kadeisha Buchanan and Jayde Riviere of Manchester United while the Football Ferns have four English-based players.
Among them is Aston Villa keeper Anna Leat.
Nearly 15,000 residents – around 10,500 of which are athletes – will be cramming into the Olympic village between July 26 and August 11.
To ensure the athletes feel at home, a number of provisions have been made by organisers.
One of these is the stocking of some 300,000 condoms, in theory enough for around two every day during the run of the Games.
A number of Olympic athletes have opened the door on their steamy lives behind-the-scenes when in camp, including huge sex orgies and parties.
London 2012 had claimed the title of “the raunchiest Games ever”, but the 150,000 condoms ordered paled in comparison to the 450,000 ordered for the Rio Games four years later.
Condoms have been laid on by organisers at every game since Seoul 1988, when it they were used to spread awareness of HIV and AIDS.
Even with an intimacy ban at Tokyo 2020 due to Covid-19, some 150,000 johnnies were handed out.
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