Paris Olympic Swimming Event Postponed Due to Water Quality Concerns
- Heavy rainfall in Paris has led to pollution issues in the Seine river, making it unsafe for swimming.
- This situation threatens the schedule for Olympic events planned in this iconic location.
- Officials are conducting continuous water testing to determine the river's safety for the games.
Paris — The inaugural Olympic swimming event in the Seine River has been postponed as officials continue to monitor water quality. Originally set for Tuesday morning, the men's triathlon swimming leg will now take place on Wednesday, pending satisfactory water test results. The women's triathlon, scheduled for the same day, remains on track, but both events are contingent on meeting World Triathlon's safety standards. Recent independent tests revealed alarming levels of E. coli in the Seine, significantly exceeding the acceptable thresholds established by World Triathlon. Following heavy rainfall over the weekend, E. coli concentrations were found to be between 3.5 and nine times higher than permissible levels. This marks the second event affected by water pollution, raising concerns about the viability of the first official event of the 2024 Paris Games. Paris has experienced double the usual rainfall this July, contributing to elevated water levels in the Seine. Paris Olympics chief Tony Estanguet indicated that if final tests show the river remains unsafe, events may be postponed by a day or two. However, localized thunderstorms forecasted for the coming days could exacerbate the situation, complicating plans for the upcoming 10-kilometer swimming marathons scheduled for August 8 and 9. Despite recent improvements in water quality, the city has invested $1.5 billion over the past decade to clean the Seine, including the construction of a large underground rainwater storage tank. The situation remains fluid as officials await further test results.