29

Jul

Olympic Games-2024

image

Big  controversy At the Start of the Grand Show

Prabhjot Singh

A person wearing a red turban Description automatically generated

Paris | Monday | 29 July 2024

Controversies seldom leave the world of competitive sports alone. The latest, over the use of a drone for spying over the training of a rival team, has not only proved embarrassing for the head coach of the 2020 Olympic champion Canadian women's soccer team but also saw her suspended for the rest of the 2024 Olympic Games.

It all happened as participating nations were preparing for the much-awaited exceptional opening ceremony to the mega sporting event to be held outside the precincts of a sporting arena – a stadium. Since some of the events started even before the conventional opening ceremony was held, a drone spying scandal pushed the 2020 Olympic gold medallists in Canada into an unsavoury spot.

Canada, known for its ethical, clean and transparent conduct in competitive sports, never dreamt of starting its Olympic campaign on such a scandalous note. It had undergone a revolt-like situation when both men's and women's teams threatened to come on the field till settlement of demand for enhanced money packages, including increased share from the FIFA disbursements.

Canada Soccer, however, managed to put behind the revolts before it sent its team to the last FIFA World Cup from where it came back still waiting for its maiden FIFA World Cup win. The women's team, however, has been outstanding as it won the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games held in 2021.

 

Article at a Glance
The Canadian women's soccer team, defending Olympic champions, has been rocked by a drone spying scandal that has led to the suspension of head coach Bev Priestman for the remainder of the 2024 Olympic Games.
A drone flown by a Canada Soccer staff member disrupted a New Zealand training session, sparking controversy and disciplinary action from FIFA. Priestman took responsibility for the incident and apologised to the New Zealand team.
Canada Soccer has launched an independent external review of the incident and the team's competitive ethics. The Canadian team will continue their campaign under the leadership of deputy coach Andy Spence.
The scandal has marred Canada's Olympic campaign, which began with a 2-1 win over New Zealand. The team will face France in their next match on Sunday.

 

A 2-1 win over New Zealand in the opener should have served as a good morale booster for the defending champions but for the drone spying controversy.

Canada Soccer has also decided to launch an independent external review of the drone incident and the historical culture of competitive ethics within all of its programs.

The Canadian team is now next scheduled to take on Group A opponent France on Sunday in Saint-Etienne.

It left the Canadian Olympic Committee, the parent body controlling sports in Canada, with no option but to remove the head coach Bev Priestman and nominate her deputy Andy Spence in her place for the rest of the Games pending an inquest held into the scandalous episode.

“Over the past 24 hours, additional information has come to our attention regarding previous drone use against opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” Canada Soccer CEO & General Secretary Kevin Blue said in an emailed statement.

“In light of these new revelations, Canada Soccer has decided to suspend Women’s National Team Head Coach, Bev Priestman for the remainder of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and until the completion of our recently announced independent external review.”

Canada launched its campaign in defence of its title with a 2-1 win over New Zealand 2-1 on Thursday, a match which Priestman voluntarily sat out after the spying scandal broke this week.

A drone flown by a Canada Soccer staff member disrupted a New Zealand training session on Monday just days ahead of their opening match against the Tokyo 2020 gold medallists.

She apologised to New Zealand players for what had happened and said ultimate responsibility lay with her.

“This does not represent the values that our team stands for. I am ultimately responsible for the conduct of our program.”

Stung by the controversy, the body controlling the game of soccer worldwide, FIFA, swung into action by launching disciplinary proceedings against the Canadian team, its chief coach and two other staff members involved in the unsavoury episode. The chief coach and two staff members have been debarred from any further participation in the 2024 Olympic Games.

---------------

  • Share:

About Us

We must explain to you how all seds this mistakens idea off denouncing pleasures and praising pain was born and I will give you a completed accounts..

Contact Us

Contact Info

  • 70, Gyan Khand- 4, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Uttar Pradesh.
  • +91-9810533682
  • info@mediamap.co.in
  • Week Days: 09.00 to 18.00 Sunday: Closed