During a training session prior to their first game at the Paris Olympics, the New Zealand women’s football team, the Football Ferns, were reportedly the target of drone spying. The incident happened on Monday in Saint-Etienne, and the drone operator was detained by local authorities after being identified as a support staff member from the Canadian women’s football team.
The NZ Olympic Committee has formally reported the incident to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) integrity unit and has asked a comprehensive assessment from the Canadian team. New Zealand is scheduled to compete against Canada in their opening game on Friday morning.
Late on Tuesday night, after an inquiry, a media release was released stating that Canada apologized and that an investigation into the event is still underway.
The Football Ferns, Canada, France, and Colombia are the other members of Olympic Group A. Canada and France, who are placed second and eighth in the FIFA women’s standings, provide a formidable group for New Zealand, which is rated 28th.
After Jitka Klimkova left the position, Michael Mayne is the team’s current coach. After originally taking the position back following an inquiry pertaining to her employment, Klimkova resigned for the Olympics.
According to a report in the French newspaper Le Monde, there has been an average of six drone interceptions each day by French security personnel close to Olympic locations, according to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.
