The men’s triathlon event at the Paris 2024 Olympics Games has been postponed because of concerns over poor water quality in the Seine River, the sport’s governing body announced on July 30.
World Triathlon issued a statement saying that officials from the sport, the International Olympic Committee, and the City of Paris met at 3:30 a.m. local time after water quality tests were carried out and decided to postpone the event.
“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes. The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held,” World Triathlon said in a statement.
The sporting body said the Seine River had been affected by the rain that fell over Paris on July 26 and 27. This altered the water quality in the river, forcing organizers to reschedule “for health reasons.”
“Despite the improvement in the water quality levels in the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits,” World Triathlon added.
The men’s event was moved to 10:45 a.m. on July 31, and the women’s race was moved to 8 a.m. on that day.
Whether the race will go ahead depends on further water testing. Organizers have set aside Aug. 2 as a contingency date for the individual races, and Aug. 6 for the mixed relay, in case water quality levels don’t improve in time.
World Triathlon said it would provide real-time updates to the 55 triathletes and ticket holders about the postponement. The sporting body plans to meet with coaches at 8 a.m. local time to provide more information.
Training sessions for the event were canceled on July 29, the second time in two days, over water quality concerns after heavy rains drenched Paris over the weekend. The downpour soaked the opening ceremony on July 26 and raised concerns about the river’s water quality.
Organizers had expressed hope on July 29 that a warm day would lower water levels and slow the current, according to Paris 2024 Organising Committee CEO Etienne Thobois.
Some 55 triathletes will compete in the race, lining up on a floating pontoon next to the Pont Alexandre III, where they will dive into the Seine. The Paris 2024 Olympics will mark the first time athletes have competed in the Seine River at an Olympics since 1900.
France invested some $1.4 billion in new wastewater infrastructure to reduce sewage flowing into the river in preparation for the 2024 Paris Games.
