How the Matildas out-did the NBA’s biggest stars in the luxury stakes at the Paris Olympics
- Matildas flies to 2024 Olympics in private jet
- Team USA arrived in France by train from London
The Matildas have outdone some of the sporting world’s biggest earners in luxury by travelling by private jet to the 2024 Olympic Games in France.
On Friday night, Australia’s most popular sports team flew from Spain to Marseille in a private jet paid for by Football Australia.
The Matildas, who have yet to win a medal at the Olympics, were the only Australian team to travel to the Games in this manner.
Unfortunately for the Matildas, their plans fell apart when their luggage was left behind in Spain.
Team USA, which collectively earns nearly $1 billion in annual salaries, traveled by train from London to Paris along with the normal commuter public.
The four-time reigning champions attracted a lot of attention as they arrived at the train station and waited for a team bus to pick them up.
The big news after their first training session in Paris was that Suns superstar Kevin Durant had trained with them.
“We had 45 very good minutes in which we had to perform a lot,” said American coach Steve Kerr.
The Matildas arrived in France for the Olympics by flying in a private jet
Team USA’s superstars arrived in France this week aboard the Eurostar train
‘No practice matches, but a lot of running and shooting. And then also some preparations for Serbia.’
Meanwhile, the Matildas were forced to postpone a photo shoot they had arranged with the world’s press earlier in the week due to a baggage error.
The Australian Olympic team boss said the issue would be resolved quickly.
‘It had no impact on their preparation or on the competition.
“And that will now be corrected.”
According to Meares, the decision to fly the Australian superstars by private jet instead of plane was made by Football Australia.
The Matildas play their first match of the Games against Germany on Friday
“That’s a Football Australia decision,” Meares said.
‘They felt this was the best, most performing model they could think of to get from Spain to Marseille.
“That’s just the norm for them now. And it’s operating at normal capacity in an abnormal environment like the Olympics.”
The Matildas play their first match of the 2024 Olympic Games against Germany on Friday.