Paris 2024 Olympics: Seine River pollution forces postponement of triathlon race- Video
The men’s triathlon, originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, was postponed by a day due to unsafe pollution levels in the River Seine, according to Olympic organisers.
The International Olympic Committee and World Triathlon, the sport’s governing body, announced on Tuesday that water quality tests conducted in the morning “revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held.”
Olympic organisers are hopeful that the sunny weather and high temperatures will improve the Seine's water quality enough for triathletes to compete.
The men’s event had been rescheduled for Wednesday, to take place after the women's triathlon, which is also set for that day.
Earlier this month, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip in the Seine to prove the safety of the River. City authorities have announced plans to open three public swimming sites in the river by June next year.
However, rainfall often causes sewer systems to overflow into the Seine, significantly increasing concentrations of infection-causing bacteria like E. coli.
