The men’s triathlon at the Paris Olympics has been delayed due to water quality issues in the River Seine.
Training sessions for the triathletes were called off on Sunday and Monday, leading to the decision to postpone the men’s race originally scheduled for 8am local time on Tuesday to Wednesday.
The revised start time is set for 10:45am local time, following the women’s race at 8am.
According to a statement from World Triathlon, Friday remains a contingency option if either of the races encounters further issues.
‘Recent tests conducted in the Seine indicated that the water quality did not meet the necessary standards to host the event,’ the statement noted.
The men’s triathlon at the Olympics has been postponed due to the Seine’s water quality
Training sessions for the Olympic triathlon event in Paris have been cancelled in recent days
‘Despite improvements in water quality, measurements at certain points along the swim course still exceed acceptable limits.’
Organizers had the option to eliminate the swimming portion and convert the event into a duathlon.
Over €1 billion (£840,000/$1 billion) has been invested in cleaning the river ahead of the Games.
However, organizers were aware that heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the event could elevate levels of harmful bacteria such as E. Coli.
There were hopes that the adverse effects from the heavy rain that affected Friday’s opening ceremony would have subsided in time, but that has yet to occur.
Swimming in the Seine, which runs through the city, has been prohibited since 1923.
Heavy rain in the French capital over the past 48 hours diminished the quality of the water
In 1990, Jacques Chirac, then-mayor of Paris, famously vowed to clean the river enough for swimming, yet his efforts did not succeed.
Earlier this month, following significant investment, current mayor Anne Hidalgo took a plunge with approximately 100 officials, swimming about 100 meters.
Nevertheless, the heavy rains that disrupted the opening ceremony have adversely affected water quality, raising concerns over pollution, particularly from E. Coli.
Such rainfall can adversely affect wastewater treatment and the flow of water.
Over the weekend, Tony Estanguet, chief of Paris 2024, confidently stated in a press briefing that he was optimistic that swimming in the Seine would occur.
