Chaos struck Argentina’s opening men’s soccer match, and a spying scandal rocked the women’s soccer tournament, marking an inauspicious start to the Paris Olympics. Here’s a rundown of Thursday’s events, the day before the Opening Ceremony.
Argentina’s soccer coach, Javier Mascherano, harshly criticized the chaotic end to their game against Morocco, calling it “the biggest circus I’ve ever seen in my life.” Argentina believed they had secured a draw deep into additional time, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside by VAR. The situation escalated when a pitch invasion caused a nearly two-hour suspension of play.
The women’s soccer tournament was thrown into disarray when New Zealand accused Canada of flying a drone over their training session, leading to a spying scandal. FIFA has begun disciplinary proceedings, and Canada Soccer announced an independent review. Coach Bev Priestman apologized and stepped down from opening match duties, taking full responsibility. New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell urged FIFA to take immediate action to address the issue.
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Tensions between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have escalated over a long-running dispute regarding the handling of a case involving 23 Chinese swimmers. WADA is taking USADA to the Independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) next month, potentially jeopardizing the United States’ ability to host the 2028 Summer Games and 2034 Winter Olympics. The New York Times and German broadcaster ARD reported that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for banned heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in 2021 but still competed in the Tokyo Olympics. USADA chief Travis Tygart has accused WADA of a cover-up, while U.S. law enforcement has taken up the case under the American Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act. WADA claims the United States’ unilateral approach undermines global anti-doping rules, while USADA views WADA’s actions as retaliatory.
France is preparing its largest post-war security operation for Friday’s Opening Ceremony. An extensive security perimeter has been established along the River Seine, with 45,000 police officers, thousands of soldiers, and private security guards tasked with securing the ceremony and the sporting events across Paris. On Thursday morning, an operational bridge in central Paris was briefly closed for a police mine sweep, causing commuter frustration. Several thousand athletes will parade along a 6-kilometer stretch of the Seine in an unprecedented and security-challenged opening ceremony.
