The Late Skimm: The Paris Olympics Already Has a Cheating Scandal

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Merde, the Paris Olympics Already Has a Cheating Scandal

What’s going on: Women’s soccer doesn’t officially kick off at the Paris Olympics until tomorrow — but there’s already drama. On Monday, a drone was spotted flying over a New Zealand women’s team training session. Turns out, the alleged drone operator was “a nonaccredited member” of the support team for Canada, the reigning Olympic women’s soccer champions...who play New Zealand in their first match tomorrow. The Canadian Olympic Committee acknowledged that the staff member was “believed to have been using a drone to record the New Zealand women’s football team” and that it happened not once, but twice. Now, the staff member has been fired, an arrest has been made, an assistant coach has been sent home, and the rest of Canada’s staff will undergo “mandatory ethics training.” Canada head coach Bev Priestman also announced she would remove herself from overseeing tomorrow’s match to “ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld.”

Of course, the internet had thoughts about this Olympic “spygate.” Many called it an, um, interesting move given that Canada are ranked eighth in the world, while New Zealand — endearingly known as the Football Ferns — are ranked 28th. In the words of one X user, “no disrespect but new zealand? really?? couldn’t have splurged and gone for france??” Another X user questioned Canada’s not-so-stealth tactic: “Did they think no one would notice a drone flying over a soccer field?” Perhaps the investigation that FIFA just opened will answer that question. In the meantime, the Canadian players, who apparently had no idea that Jason Bourne wannabe(s) were allegedly doing sports crimes on their behalf, still have to face the Ferns tomorrow at 11 am ET. Awkward.

Related: Here are 12 other Olympic scandals you may — or may not — have forgotten about (Business Insider)

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The Final Countdown

On your marks, get set, watch. NBC Olympics coverage begins this Friday, July 26 on NBC and Peacock at 7:30/6:30c.*