- Men’s Olympic triathlon postponed due to high pollution in the Seine.
- Heavy rain in Paris raised E. coli levels, rescheduling the race.
- Organizers prioritize athlete health, hoping for improved water quality.
The men’s Olympic triathlon, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, has been postponed due to high pollution levels in the Seine, discovered during a 3.30am inspection.
Heavy rainfall in Paris over the weekend had adversely affected the water quality, compelling organizers to reschedule the event for health reasons.
According to a statement, the men’s race will now be held at 10.45am on Wednesday, following the women’s race which starts at 8am.
This situation is a setback for the organizers, who have been striving to clean the Seine and make it safe for swimming as part of their Olympic preparations.
Test results from July 17-23 indicated elevated levels of E. coli and other harmful bacteria in parts of the river where athletes were scheduled to compete. Consequently, training in the Seine was canceled over the weekend due to unsatisfactory water quality levels, as determined by the international federation, World Triathlon.
An emailed statement from the Olympics organizers on Monday revealed that despite the 36-hour weather forecast suggesting improvement, the water quality remained unsafe.
“Despite the improvement on the water quality levels in the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are above acceptable levels,” stated World Triathlon and Paris 2024 organizers. They cited heavy rainfall in Paris last Friday and Saturday as the cause.
The statement emphasized that the priority of both Paris 2024 and World Triathlon is the health of the athletes.
They expressed hope that the water quality would improve sufficiently to hold the men’s event on the rescheduled date.
The efforts to clean the Seine and ensure a safe environment for the athletes underscore the ongoing challenges and the commitment to athlete safety amid unpredictable weather conditions.
