Daily Edition – Day 1: Zero days since last incident

The GIST: Canada Soccer’s drone scandal escalated yesterday with a jaw-dropping TSN report that staff members and contractors from both CanWNT and CanMNT have used drones to spy on other teams for years, including during CanWNT’s gold medal run at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

• Canada Soccer has since suspended CanWNT head coach Bev Priestman, citing “additional information” about drone use prior to the Paris Olympics. Shocking doesn’t even begin to cover it.

The context: On Monday, the Canadian Olympic Committee sent home CanWNT analyst Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander, who allegedly flew a drone over No. 28 New Zealand’s practice. Priestman apologized for the incident and stepped away from coaching duties for Canada’s Olympic opener against New Zealand, which the red and white won 2–1 yesterday.

The new details: TSN’s bombshell report dropped after the game, alleging a culture of spying that involves both the women’s and men’s teams and dates back to at least 2019, even being carried out amid the strict environment at the Tokyo Games.

• One anonymous source said a coach filmed a Japanese women’s national team soccer practice — CanWNT notably went on to draw the host nation 1–1 in their opening group stage match before ultimately winning gold.

• Staffers were allegedly told they could lose their jobs if they did not fulfill demands to spy on other teams. At this time, it’s not clear if any CanWNT or CanMNT players were aware of the reported spying.

What’s next: FIFA and Canada Soccer are investigating the allegations, with the latter promising to make their findings public. Needless to say, there’s no place for this in sports — and the team’s suddenly tainted gold medal defense hangs in the balance ahead of Sunday’s 3 p.m. ET group stage match against No. 2 France.

The GIST: The glitz, the celebs, the ’fits — there’s nothing quite like the Olympics Opening Ceremony. Here’s what to expect from what’s bound to be an epic display in Paris.

An ambitious venue: This will be the first Summer Games Opening Ceremony to take place outside of a stadium. Instead, roughly 94 boats will carry athletes down 6 km of the Seine River, with the City of Lights as the star of the show (other than Kelly Clarkson, of course).

• With 80 giant screens and thousands of seats along the route, it’ll be one of the most accessible Opening Ceremonies ever.

LeBron and Coco carry the stars and stripes: Team USA athletes elected NBA legend LeBron James and tennis/TikTok star Coco Gauff to bear the U.S. flag during the Parade of Nations. James is the first men’s basketball player to receive the honor, while 20-year-old Gauff will be the youngest American to ever don the fancy jacket.

• Also being honored? Rapper-turned-Olympic icon Snoop Dogg, who will carry the Olympic torch through the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis later today. It’s kinda cool being Snoop D-O-double-G.

Céline Dion and Lady Gaga rumored to perform: The plan for the entertainment is more secret than Beyoncé’s Hot Ones appearance, but rumor has it these two gold medal–level divas will bless fans with an appearance. Near, far, wherever you are…it’s going to be epic.

Ready to add a dash of spontaneity to your summer travel plans? Heineken has you covered: By entering their Stars of Summer contest, you and a friend could win a surprise getaway for free.

• In collaboration with Pack Up + Go, Heineken’s giving away a completely curated vacay. The thrilling catch? The winner won’t know where they’re headed until the day they depart. A wanderlust woman’s wildest dream.

The GIST: The No. 5 USWNT’s journey back to the Olympic podium began with a comfortable 3–0 win over No. 64 Zambia yesterday, a dominant three-point showing from start to finish. That’s more like it.

Forwards Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson shine: The American crusade was fast and furious as the red, white, and blue rained shots on a discombobulated Zambian defense right from kickoff. Rodman broke through in the 17th minute, executing her signature spin move for her first career Olympic goal.

• Swanson quickly joined the fun, netting back-to-back goals in the span of 66 seconds, a triumphant return to the Games that was eight years in the making after battling back from various injuries.

• A win’s a hard-fought win, but unfortunately, fitness concerns linger around the frontline. Forward Jaedyn Shaw was taken off the roster before the first whistle, while forward Sophia Smith exited the game before halftime, possibly also due to injury.

Up next — No. 4 Germany, Sunday at 3 p.m. ET: The USWNT topped Zambia not just by finally scoring some golazos, but also by stifling world-class Copper Queens striker Barbra Banda, a testament to the squad’s strong defense.

• But the competition only gets tougher. Germany easily handled No. 12 Australia 3–0 in their opener and will test the USWNT’s young backline. That said, if anyone can handle it, it’s stout defender and fearless leader Naomi Girma. Time to shine.

The Olympic Games are here and you can get the best seat in the house with the RE—INC crew and their founders, two-time World Cup winners and Olympians Christen Press and Tobin Heath. With a special 50% off GISTer discount (promo code RExGIST50), become a member today and gain access to the following benefits:

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What are you waiting for? Use your special GISTer discount (promo code RExGIST50) today and never watch a game alone again.