Triathlon swimming training session cancelled

Rain lifts River Seine pollution levels

FE Team | Published: July 28, 2024 23:45:54

PARIS, July 28 (Xinhua): Practice sessions for the swimming leg of the Olympic Triathlon had to be cancelled on Sunday due to poor water quality in the River Seine, where the swimming leg is due to be held.
The Paris 2024 organizers and World Triathlon explained in a statement that the heavy rain in the French capital city over Friday and Saturday has affected the quality of water in the river.
"The tests carried out in the Seine [on Saturday] revealed water quality levels that in the view of the international federation, World Triathlon, did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held," said the statement, which insisted the "priority is the health of the athletes."
Heavy rain can lead to untreated sewage flowing into the river, which had become cleaner during July due to a spell of dry, warm weather.
The triathlon competition is due to start on July 30 and the organizers said they were "confident" water quality would "return to below limits before the start of the triathlon competitions.
Warm weather is predicted for the coming days in Paris, but if the river water isn't any cleaner, the triathlon could be delayed until it improves or the event is moved to Vaires-sur-Marne to the east of Paris.