On Sunday morning, the first triathlon training session in the Seine was called off due to unsatisfactory water quality, leaving athletes nervously awaiting improvements before the men’s race set for Tuesday.
The final “familiarisation” session scheduled for Monday is also uncertain due to the heavy rainfall that has hit Paris since the opening ceremony.
Organisers will announce their decision regarding that practice session at 4am local time on Monday. If it is cancelled, triathletes will have no opportunity to train in the Seine prior to their race.
In a joint statement, both Paris 2024 and World Triathlon emphasized that “the health of the athletes” is their top priority.
“After a meeting regarding water quality this morning, which included Paris 2024, World Triathlon representatives, Météo France, Drieat, the City of Paris, and the Île-de-France prefecture, a mutual decision was made to cancel the swim leg of the triathlon familiarisation scheduled for 28 July at 8am,” they announced. “The running and cycling familiarisations will proceed as planned.”
“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reaffirm that the health of the athletes remains paramount,” they continued. “The testing conducted in the Seine indicated water quality levels that, in the opinion of World Triathlon, did not provide adequate assurances for the event. This is a result of the rain that fell on Paris on 26 and 27 July.”
Nevertheless, there is cautious optimism that the races – with the women’s event happening on Wednesday – will go ahead as scheduled, as organisers typically find that water quality levels normalize approximately 36 hours after the rain ceases.
“Given the weather forecast for the next 48 hours, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon are hopeful that water quality will return to acceptable levels,” they stated. “As seen in July, under summer conditions (more sunshine, higher temperatures, and prolonged dry spells), the water quality in the Seine has improved considerably.”
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Swimming in the Seine has been prohibited for over a century. Since 2015, approximately £1 billion has been invested in preparations for the Olympics, aimed at ensuring a cleaner river for Parisians post-Games.
This initiative includes the construction of a large underground water storage facility in central Paris, upgrading sewer systems, and improving wastewater treatment plants.
