A chaotic start to the Paris Olympics has taken another turn for the worse after the Sunday’s first training session for triathletes has been postponed.
The swimming section of one of the Games’ most physically demanding events had been scheduled to take place in the River Seine, but has been pushed back due to concerns of the quality of the water.
‘Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that the priority is the health of the athletes,’ read a statement.
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‘The analysis carried out yesterday in the Seine showed water quality levels that do not present sufficient guarantees to allow the event to take place.’
The opening day of the Olympics had been hit by adverse weather conditions which had led to the postponement of the skateboarding.
Tennis, too, which is being staged at Roland Garros, the home of the French Open, was also hit by delays.
Organisers are confident, however, that conditions will improve over the course of the next few hours to allow those participating in the triathlon some much needed time to get used to swimming in the river that played such a prominent role in a controversial opening ceremony.
The quality of the water in represented a huge concern in the build-up to the Olympics with tests as recently as June still showing traces of E.coli.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Paris 2024 chief organiser Tony Estanguet swam in the Seine on July 17 to show the water was clean but a deluge of rain has dramatically altered the situation.
Speaking less than 24 hours ago, organisers were confident events in the Sien would go ahead as planned.
‘The rain that has fallen on Paris over the last 24 hours is likely to impact the quality of the water in the Seine over the next 24 to 36 hours,’ organisers said in a statement to Reuters.
‘Depending on current water quality levels and the conditions expected over the next 24 hours, it is possible that the familiarisation (athlete training) scheduled for Sunday 28 July at 8 a.m. may be cancelled.’
What swimming events are in the Seine?
The swimming events that’ll take place in the Seine River include marathon swimming and triathlon.
Other swimming events, including Adam Peaty’s attempts to bring home a medal later today (July 28), will take place at the La Défense Arena.
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