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1 month ago
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The Matildas have exclipsed some of sport's top earners in the luxury stakes by travelling to the 2024 Olympic Games in France by private jet.
On Friday night, Australia's most loved sporting team flew from Spain to Marseille on a private jet paid for by Football Australia.
The Matildas - who are yet to win a medal at an Olympics - were the only Aussie team to travel to the Games in this manner.
Sadly for the Matildas, their plans went pear-shaped after their baggage was left behind in Spain.
Team USA - which is worth almost a staggering billion dollars in combined yearly salaries - made their way into Paris on a train from London with normal commuters.
The four-time defending gold medalists attracted a crowd of fans as they arrived at the train station and waited for a team bus to collect them.
The big news after their first training session in Paris was that Suns superstar Kevin Durant practiced.
'We had a really good 45 minutes of getting up and down,' said American coach Steve Kerr.
The Matildas arrived in France for the Olympics by flying on a private jet
Team USA superstars arrived in France this week aboard the Eurostar train
'Not scrimmaging, but a lot of running and shooting. And then, some prep for Serbia as well.'
Meanwhile, the Matildas' baggage bungle meant they had to postpone a photoshoot earlier in the week that had been pre-planned with the world's press.
Aussie Olympic team boss said the issue would be soon sorted out.
'It didn't affect their preparation, or their competition at all.
'And this will be rectified at this stage.'
Meares said the decision to fly the Aussie superstars by private jet instead of commercial was Football Australia's.
The Matildas play their first match at the Games against Germany on Friday
'That's a decision for Football Australia,' Meares said.
'They felt that it was the best, high performance model for them that they could do to bring them in from Spain to Marseilles.
'That is just the norm for them now. And it's operating in normal capacity in an abnormal environment like the Olympic Games.'
The Matildas will play their first game of the 2024 Olympics against Germany on Friday.
English (US)