New Zealand says it has complained to the International Olympic Committee's integrity unit after a drone flown over a New Zealand women's soccer team training session was found to be operated by a member of the Canadian team's support staff.
New Zealand and defending Olympic champion Canada meet in their opening match at the Olympic tournament in the early hours of Friday morning AEST.
The drone incident occurred earlier this week, the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) said on Wednesday.
"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 NZOC has formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review."
The NZOC statement said Canada had apologised over the incident and was investigating.
"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," the NZOC said.
"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."
Original story link https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-24/paris-olympic-games-new-zealand-canada-drone-football/104135566
Story by AP/abcnews
