Olympic triathletes gearing up for the Paris Games will not be able to participate in their inaugural practice session on the River Seine this Sunday due to poor water quality.
With two days allocated for practice before the men’s event on Tuesday, and the women’s race following a day later, organizers acknowledge that the heavy rainfall over the preceding 24 hours will likely lead to another failure in the water quality test scheduled for 4am on Sunday.
A second “familiarization” or training session is scheduled for Monday, but organizers remain optimistic that the improved weather forecast will allow both races to proceed as planned.
“The recent rain in Paris is expected to affect the Seine’s water quality in the next 24 to 36 hours,” stated a spokesperson for Paris. “Given the current levels and anticipated conditions, it is plausible that Sunday’s familiarization set for 8am may be canceled. An official decision will be made at the morning meeting at 4am on July 28.
“Nonetheless, we are confident in our ability to execute the events as scheduled from July 30. Based on the weather forecast for the next two days, we anticipate that the water quality will return to acceptable levels within 24 to 36 hours.”
Swimming in the Seine has been prohibited for over a century. Since 2015, around £1bn has been invested by organizers to prepare the river for the Olympics and to create a cleaner environment for Parisians post-Games. This initiative has involved constructing a massive underground water storage facility in central Paris, upgrading sewer systems, and enhancing wastewater treatment facilities.
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British Triathlon’s performance director, Mike Cavendish, expressed confidence in his team’s potential for success, even if the practice session is canceled. “While a decrease in familiarization opportunities may affect all competing nations, we have strong faith in our preparations and are confident that our athletes will be primed to perform at their best,” he remarked.
