PARIS, July 24, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - A staff member from the Canadian women's 
football team has been detained by French authorities for flying a drone over 
a New Zealand training session ahead of their match at the Paris Olympics.

The Canadian Olympic Committee said it was "shocked and disappointed" by the 
incident on Tuesday in Saint-Etienne and was investigating.

"We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players 
affected and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee," it said in a statement 
Wednesday. 

Olympic champions Canada face New Zealand on Thursday in the opening game of 
their gold-medal defence.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee said team support members reported the 
incident to police, with the drone operator detained. 

"The NZOC has formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and 
has asked Canada for a full review," it added.

Canada said the person was a non-accredited member of Canada Soccer and it 
was liaising with the International Olympic Committee and football governing 
body FIFA on what steps to take next.