- A Canadian women’s soccer team member caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand’s practice session, marking the second drone incident this week.
- Canadian coach Bev Priestman and two other staff members have been removed from the team as a result.
OUR TAKE
The incident involving the Canadian women’s soccer team highlights serious concerns about sportsmanship and ethical behaviour at the Olympics. The use of drones to spy on competitors not only breaches the spirit of fair play but also underscores the importance of strict adherence to security and ethical standards. The swift action taken by the Canadian Olympic Committee to address the situation reflects a commitment to upholding integrity and transparency in the games.
— Zoey Zhu, BTW reporter
What happened
A member of the Canadian women’s soccer team was caught using a drone to spy on the New Zealand team’s practice session in Saint-Étienne, France on Monday. This marks the second drone-related incident involving New Zealand’s practices within a week. The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) responded by removing coach Bev Priestman from her role for the team’s opening match against New Zealand and sending home two additional staff members: Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach.
The team’s assistant coach, Andy Spence, will step in for Priestman during the match. French security forces, enforcing a strict drone ban around Paris, intercepted the drone and detained its operator, a non-accredited Canadian staff member. The New Zealand Olympic Committee has formally lodged a complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit and requested a full investigation.
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Why it’s important
This controversy underscores significant ethical concerns and highlights the need for strict adherence to the Olympic principles of fairness and respect. The unauthorised use of drones to spy on opponents breaches the spirit of competition and fair play. The Canadian Olympic Committee’s decisive actions, including removing key staff and implementing mandatory ethics training for Canada Soccer, reflect an effort to address these breaches and reinforce the integrity of the games.
As the 2024 Summer Olympics begin, the enforcement of security measures and ethical standards will be crucial in maintaining the fairness and respect essential to the spirit of international competition. The incident not only affects the involved teams but also sets a precedent for how breaches of conduct are managed in the Olympic context.
