Olympic organizers cancel triathlon training due to water pollution
Olympic Games organizers have recently cancelled the first triathlon training session due to heavy rainfall. However, they are "confident" that water quality will improve before the triathlon competitions on July 30.
The organizers have cancelled the first triathlon training session at the Olympic Games in Paris. The reason for the decision is the pollution of the Seine.
"After a meeting 'on water quality' and conducting tests, 'a joint decision was made to cancel the swimming portion of the orientation triathlon,'" reads a statement from Paris 2024 and World Triathlon.
During tests in mid-July, it was already determined that the water in the Seine was not clean enough to swim in. There were still doubts about whether the competition could be held.
No guarantee on water quality
"Paris 2024 and World Triathlon emphasize that the health of athletes is a priority. The analysis conducted yesterday in the Seine showed that the level of water quality does not provide sufficient guarantees for the event to take place," reads the statement.
Organizers blame recent rains for the poor water quality. However, they assure that the water quality will improve enough for the triathlon competition to start on July 30. A "Plan B" is in place if this does not happen.
In that case, the competition may be postponed by a few days or completely moved to Vaires-sur-Marne, on the Marne River east of Paris.
