Paris Olympics: Men’s triathlon postponed due to high pollution levels in Seine | Paris Olympics 2024 News – Times of India

The men’s triathlon at the Paris Olympics, initially planned for Tuesday, has been postponed due to high pollution levels in the Seine, according to World Triathlon. The race has been moved to Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. (0845 GMT), following the women’s event scheduled for the same day at 8 a.m. This decision, prompted by health concerns, introduces uncertainty for the athletes and organizers.
Organizers hoped for improved water quality after recent rains last Friday and Saturday had caused contamination in the river.Despite some improvement, World Triathlon reported that water quality in parts of the swim course remained above acceptable levels.
“Despite the improvement of water quality levels over the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits,” World Triathlon was quoted by Reuters early on Tuesday. “Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes.”
If bacterial contamination remains high by Wednesday morning, both the men’s and women’s races may be further postponed to Friday, earmarked as the contingency day. Should water quality still be a concern on Friday, the swim leg will be removed, and the event will be converted into a duathlon. The mixed triathlon relay event, planned for August 5, has August 6 as its backup day.

The Paris authorities have invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.51 billion) in wastewater infrastructure to mitigate sewage discharge into the Seine. This initiative aims to make the river swimmable, positioning it as a notable legacy of the Games. Earlier this month, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo even swam in the river to assure skeptics of its improved safety.
Nonetheless, predicting water quality on race day has remained a challenge due to its variable nature. Rainfall significantly increases the levels of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and enterococci in the river. Seth Rider, one of the 55 triathletes entered in the men’s race, described his unique preparation for potential bacteria exposure.
“We know that there’s going to be some E. coli exposure, so I just try to increase my E. coli threshold by exposing myself to a bit of E. coli in your day-to-day life,” the U.S. athlete said at a press conference on Saturday.
The Olympic triathlon course was designed to showcase Paris’s landmarks, with the Seine swim being a key feature. Athletes will begin the swimming segment from a pontoon next to the Alexandre III bridge. They will then cycle and run past iconic sites such as the Musée d’Orsay and Grand Palais, finishing the race back at the starting point. Competitors crossing the finish line on the bridge will be framed by the stone columns topped with gilt-bronze statues of Pegasus, with the golden dome of the Invalides monument providing a majestic background.