- Athletes were set to enter the water at 8am on Sunday morning
- The decision was made by the organization responsible for monitoring water quality
- Fecal bacteria levels, specifically E. coli, are tested daily in the River Seine
The inaugural training session for an Olympics open-water swimming event in Paris has been scrapped due to water pollution levels in the Seine.
Triathletes were supposed to engage in a familiarization session this morning, but World Triathlon and the organization overseeing water quality assessments determined that the standards had fallen below acceptable limits.
The Seine had been declared suitable for swimming after inspections in July, but heavy rainfall in Paris over the last 48 hours has compromised the water quality.
Nevertheless, organizers are optimistic that there will be no additional delays.
A statement from Paris 2024 and World Triathlon indicated: ‘The tests conducted in the Seine showed water quality levels that, in the opinion of the international federation, World Triathlon, did not offer sufficient assurances to proceed with the event.
A training session for an Olympics open-water swimming event in Paris has been cancelled
The decision was taken on Sunday morning due to the level of water pollution in the Seine
‘This is a result of rain that fell on Paris on 26 and 27 July.
‘With the weather forecast for the next 48 hours in mind, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon are confident that the water quality will return to acceptable levels before the triathlon competitions, scheduled for 30 July.’
Weather conditions and E. coli levels, a type of fecal bacteria, can impact water quality. Daily tests are conducted in the Seine, with the most recent one occurring on Saturday.
The men’s triathlon is slated for Tuesday morning, and improving weather conditions are anticipated. The familiarization sessions for running and biking continued as scheduled.
Despite water pollution concerns, the women’s individual event is scheduled to proceed on Wednesday, with the mixed relay event following the next week.
Heavy rain in the French capital over the past 48 hours diminished the quality of the water
A heavy downpour during the Opening Ceremony raised concerns over the river’s condition
Since 2015, around €1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) has been invested in efforts to clean the Seine. Public swimming has been prohibited for over a century, but the 483-mile river is set to host marathon swimming and triathlon events during the Olympics.
Concerns regarding the river’s cleanliness arose due to heavy rain during the Opening Ceremony. Test results published on Friday showed that water quality was slightly above the required standards prior to the Olympics.
Last week, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine to alleviate public concerns regarding water conditions; however, subsequent testing revealed that E. coli levels were above safe limits on the day she swam.
Paris City Hall reported that water quality met European standards six out of seven days, attributing the decline to ‘regular rainfall episodes.’
In light of the cancellation, the Paris 2024 organizing committee emphasized their commitment to athlete safety, stating: ‘As observed in July, during summer conditions, water quality in the Seine has significantly improved.’
