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The Olympic men’s triathlon was postponed just hours before it was set to begin on Tuesday after last-minute water quality tests indicated unhealthy pollution levels in the River Seine, according to organizers.
This decision is a setback for Olympic officials who had repeatedly assured that the Seine would be safe for athletes. The men’s triathlon will now take place 24 hours later, immediately following the women’s race on Wednesday.
In a joint statement, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon attributed the increased pollution to heavy rainfall that hit the French capital on Friday and Saturday.
“The priority is the health of the athletes,” the statement said after a meeting held at 3:30 a.m. local time (01:30 GMT).
“Today’s tests showed water quality levels that did not guarantee the event could proceed. Unfortunately, weather events beyond our control can affect water quality and force us to reschedule for health reasons.”
Training sessions in the Seine planned for Sunday and Monday were already canceled due to unsafe pollution levels from last week’s rain. However, organizers had been hopeful that pollution levels would decrease in time for Tuesday’s race, thanks to the bright, sunny weather in Paris this week, which helps reduce bacteria levels.
French authorities have invested 1.4 billion euros (approximately $1.5 billion) over the past decade to clean up the Seine, including the construction of new water treatment and storage facilities in and around Paris.
Nevertheless, heavy rains can overwhelm the city’s underground drainage and sewage systems, resulting in untreated waste being discharged into the river. After an unusually wet spring and early summer, the Seine had consistently failed water quality tests until early July, presenting a significant challenge for the organizers of Paris 2024.
E. Coli levels, which indicate the presence of fecal matter, were sometimes ten times higher than permissible limits.
The triathlon will be the first Olympic event to take place in the Seine, followed by marathon swimming in the second week of the Games.
