Olympic Event Postponed
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s dive into the latest updates from the Paris Olympics! The men’s triathlon has been postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday due to concerns over the water quality in the River Seine, despite a massive $1.5 billion effort to clean it up.
Now, here’s the scoop: swimming training for the triathletes was called off on Sunday and Monday. This prompted the decision to shift the men’s race from 8 a.m. on Tuesday to 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday. However, the women’s race is still set to go as planned on Wednesday at 8 a.m.
World Triathlon made a statement, clarifying that Friday remains a backup day if one or both races can’t proceed. Their tests showed the water quality isn’t up to the mark yet, even though there’s been an improvement. Some areas still have readings above the acceptable limits.
Adding to the mix, weather forecasts predict rain showers and storms between Tuesday night and Thursday, which could increase bacteria levels in the Seine. Notably, June tests revealed unsafe levels of E. coli, indicating potential fecal contamination.
According to World Triathlon Federation standards, E. coli levels beyond 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters are unsafe. To adapt, organizers considered making the event a duathlon by skipping the swimming segment altogether.
Despite spending over €1.4 billion on cleaning the river, including constructing a massive basin to capture rainwater and upgrading sewer infrastructure and wastewater treatment plants, heavy rain before the competition can still cause E. coli levels to spike.
Paris 2024 sports director Aurélie Merle acknowledged the challenges posed by the weather but remained optimistic about the project’s overall success and legacy. She expressed pride in the efforts made so far.
Historically, swimming in the Seine has been banned since 1923. In 1990, Jacques Chirac, then the mayor of Paris, vowed to clean it up but didn’t succeed. Fast forward to today, after significant investments, current mayor Anne Hidalgo took a symbolic swim in the river earlier this month.
However, the heavy rain that disrupted the opening ceremony has affected water quality, with concerns about E. coli and other pollutants. Over the weekend, Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet expressed confidence in the event proceeding as planned.
Locals are still wary of swimming in the Seine. Frah, a singer from Shaka Ponk, bluntly said he wouldn’t swim in the river, calling it “crazy s**t.” Another person described the river as housing “everything which is dirty,” including rats, but jokingly said they might swim in it for a million dollars.
On the brighter side, some Parisians are optimistic. They believe the city’s efforts have significantly improved the river’s cleanliness. Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of the Olympics, emphasized the clean-up as a contribution to the future, hoping that seeing athletes swim in the Seine without health issues will encourage locals to follow suit.