Paris 2024: Triathlon Delayed Due to Seine River Pollution
- Publish date: Tuesday، 30 July 2024
High Pollution Levels Postpone Men's Triathlon at Paris 2024 Olympics
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The men's triathlon at the Paris Olympics, initially set for Tuesday, has been postponed to Wednesday due to high pollution levels in the Seine, according to World Triathlon.
Rescheduled Events
The men's race will now take place at 10:45 am. (0845 GMT) on Wednesday, immediately following the women's event, which starts at 8 am. This change comes as a setback for organizers who were hopeful that the river's water quality would improve after heavy rains last Friday and Saturday caused significant pollution.
Current Water Quality
Despite some improvement in water quality, certain areas of the swim course still have pollution levels above acceptable limits. World Triathlon will update coaches on the latest developments and the revised schedule during a meeting at 8 am on Tuesday.
Further Delays Possible
If bacterial levels remain high by Wednesday morning, both the men's and women's races may be postponed to Friday, the designated contingency day. The mixed triathlon relay event, scheduled for August 5, also has a contingency date on August 6.
Efforts to Clean the Seine
Paris authorities have invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.51 billion) in wastewater infrastructure to improve the Seine's water quality. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo even swam in the river earlier this month to showcase the efforts. However, water quality in the Seine can vary greatly, especially after rain, which increases levels of harmful bacteria like E. coli and enterococci.