The Olympic men’s triathlon, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, has been postponed due to high pollution levels in the River Seine. Last-minute water quality tests showed unhealthy pollution, prompting organizers to delay the event by 24 hours. This decision is a setback for officials who had assured that the Seine would be safe for athletes.
Heavy rain over the weekend caused excessive pollution, leading to the postponement. In a statement, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon emphasized their commitment to athlete health, noting that meteorological events beyond their control had impacted water quality.
Training sessions in the Seine were already canceled on Sunday and Monday due to pollution. Despite efforts to clean the river, including a €1.4 billion investment in water treatment, heavy rains still cause untreated sewage to enter the waterway. High levels of E.Coli bacteria have been a recurring issue.
The men’s triathlon will now take place immediately after the women’s race on Wednesday. The triathlon is the first Olympic event planned for the Seine, with marathon swimming events also scheduled for later in the Games.
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