Paris, July 24:  Controversy has erupted ahead of the Paris Olympics as the Canadian Olympic Committee has issued a formal apology after a drone was reportedly used to spy on the New Zealand women’s football team during their training session.

The incident occurred on July 22, when a drone was spotted over the New Zealand women’s football team’s practice session in St. Etienne. The unauthorized surveillance prompted immediate action from the team’s support members, who reported the situation to French authorities. The drone operator, identified as a non-accredited member of the Canadian Soccer support staff, was detained by local police.

The Canadian Olympic Committee swiftly responded to the incident. In a statement, they expressed their shock and disappointment, emphasizing their commitment to fair play. “We are deeply sorry for the breach of conduct involving a non-accredited member of our team. The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for integrity and respect in all competitions,” the statement read.

The Canadian Olympic Committee has pledged to review the incident with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Paris 2024 organizers, Canada Soccer, and FIFA. An update on the investigation and subsequent actions is expected later today.

This incident comes just days before Canada is set to face New Zealand in the opening match of the women’s football tournament at the Olympics. Both teams and their supporters await further clarification as the situation develops.