PARIS – From the punishment for the Canadian football scandal to Summer McIntosh’s first Olympic medal, here are five things to know about Saturday at the 2024 Paris Games:

FIRST MEDAL

Canada opened its Olympic medal count on the first day of the Paris Games when Summer McIntosh swam to a silver medal in the women's 400 freestyle. McIntosh finished fourth in the event as a 14-year-old three years ago at the Tokyo Games. She won her first career Olympic medal in three minutes, 58.37 seconds, 0.88 seconds behind world record holder Ariarne Titmus of Australia. McIntosh will compete in at least three more events in Paris, including the 400 individual medley on Monday. He set a world record in the event in May.

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The consequences of the football scandal

FIFA slammed Canada Soccer on Saturday for a drone spying scandal that cast a shadow over Canada's entire Olympic team at the Paris Games. Canada's women's soccer team was stripped of six points (the equivalent of two wins) and fined the equivalent of C$313,000 by the national governing body. Head coach Bev Priestman was one of three members of Canada's coaching staff suspended for one year. The sanctions come after two members of Canada's staff were caught using a drone to record opponents' practices. The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer are considering appealing the six-point deduction.

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ON GUARD!

Fares Arfa may have fallen short of Canada's first fencing medal, but he made a name for himself by reaching the quarterfinals of the men's sabre. The 29-year-old from Laval, Que., defeated three-time defending Olympic champion Aron Szilagyi of Hungary in the round of 16 before falling narrowly 15-13 to eventual gold medallist Oh Sang-uk of South Korea in the quarterfinals. Arfa was part of the Canadian sabre team that won gold at the 2023 Pan Am Games. That event begins Wednesday with Arfa's Canada taking on Oh and top-ranked South Korea.

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BARRETT STRENGTHENS CANADA BEYOND GREECE

RJ Barrett's 23-point performance, highlighted by an emphatic dunk at the buzzer, propelled Canada to an 86-79 victory over Greece on the opening day of the men's basketball competition in France. Canada never trailed in the game but let things get tough late in the fourth quarter. Greece found itself within three points of the Canadians with 32 seconds left, but two free throws by Jamal Murray and Barrett's final goal sealed the victory. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 34 for Greece. Canada plays next Tuesday against No. 5 Australia.

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STRONG START, STRONGER END

China took the lead in the medal standings with the first two golds of the Paris Games. Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao won gold in the mixed air rifle for the first gold of the Olympics, then Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen stepped onto the podium in the women's three-metre synchronised springboard. But it was the Australians who finished the day on top with three golds and two silvers, including four in the group.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2024.