Paris 2024 organizers have announced a major decision regarding the men's triathlon several days after practice was canceled due to heavy rain.
Paris 2024 officials have officially postponed the men’s triathlon which was scheduled to be held today in the Seine River, via The Hollywood Reporter.
Triathlon practice was canceled on Sunday and Monday following severe rains over Paris which washed pollutants into the Seine, creating a hazardous course for athletes. An early morning water test of the river revealed that pollutants were “still above the acceptable limits” for Tuesday’s race to commence.
“Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control, such as the rain which fell over Paris on 26 and 27 July, can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons,” a statement from Paris 2024 and the World Triathlon read. “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.”
The statement continued: “Despite the improvement on the water quality levels in the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits. We will provide the athletes who are due to take part in the men’s triathlon event with all information on its postponement, as well as real-time updates on the situation.”
Originally scheduled for July 30 at 8 a.m. local time, the men’s triathlon has been tentatively moved to July 31 at 10:45 a.m., by which time officials are hopeful that the water will be in swimming condition. No announcement has been made regarding the postponement of the women’s triathlon, which is also scheduled for Wednesday.
Paris spent roughly $1.6 billion cleaning the Seine ahead of the Olympic games. The city’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo, even swam about 300 feet through the Seine to prove its safety.
