PARIS. The men’s triathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been postponed due to concerns over the water quality in the Seine River, organizers announced on Tuesday. The rescheduling aims to address contamination issues, with the event now set to take place on Wednesday, pending satisfactory water test results.
The decision comes as Paris officials grapple with fluctuating bacteria levels in the Seine, which have been impacted by recent weather conditions. The city has invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in improving water quality to facilitate swimming events in the river. However, despite these efforts, E. coli levels remain a concern.
Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan noted that while “the trend is improving,” current readings still exceed acceptable limits. “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,” organizers said. “Our priority is the health of the athletes.”
The postponement follows a meeting involving World Triathlon, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and city officials. The men’s triathlon is now scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, while the women’s triathlon, also scheduled for that day, will proceed only if water quality tests are favorable. Friday has been designated as a backup date for both events.
The delay has been influenced by recent weather patterns, including heavy rain during the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday and continuing storms through the week. Rain generally exacerbates contamination levels in the Seine, complicating the efforts to ensure a safe environment for the athletes.
Aurélie Merle, Paris 2024 Director of Sports, expressed frustration over the situation but emphasized ongoing commitment to the project. “There are unfortunate meteorological events outside of our control,” Merle said. “But otherwise the project is still very strong. When we see the impact on the quality and the legacy that we can leave also to the Parisians, we all feel extremely proud of what we’ve done so far.”
Water quality tests have shown varying E. coli levels at different points along the course, with some readings reaching 1,553 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters, well above the European safety threshold of 900 units. E. coli contamination can pose health risks, including gastrointestinal infections and other illnesses.
Efforts to improve water quality have included constructing a giant basin to capture excess rainwater and prevent wastewater from entering the Seine, as well as upgrading sewer infrastructure and treatment facilities.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently demonstrated confidence in the water quality by swimming in the river with other officials, though subsequent data indicated that E. coli levels were slightly above the acceptable limit at that time.
The rescheduled men’s triathlon and the women’s triathlon, if held on Wednesday, will face additional challenges from the anticipated heat, which may impact the events’ conclusion. Future events in the Seine include the mixed relay triathlon on August 5 and the marathon swimming events on August 8 and 9.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
