Concerns are rising over the worsening water quality in the Seine River, and questions loom about the feasibility of hosting the triathlon events at the Paris Olympics as planned. Many observers are skeptical, believing there is a slim chance of proceeding as scheduled.
The BBC reported on the 31st, “Organizers say the men’s and women’s Olympic triathlons only have a 60% chance of going ahead on Wednesday.”
Organizers conduct daily assessments of the Seine River’s water quality, which they have reported remains inadequate for hosting the events. An upcoming test will determine whether to proceed with the competitions.
Initially set for the 30th, the men’s event was postponed due to E. coli findings at four points along the 1500m course during testing.
Swimming in areas contaminated with microorganisms like E. coli heightens the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses and external infections, posing significant health concerns that make proceeding with the events unsafe.
If the events cannot be held as planned, they will be rescheduled to August 2nd, serving as a backup date for both the men’s and women’s events.
Organizers are also contemplating a last-resort option: if Seine River water quality issues persist, they may opt for a duathlon format, excluding swimming and featuring only cycling and running events.
There is growing dissatisfaction among participating athletes. Marten Van Riel from Belgium criticized organizers, stating, “If the priority was the health of the athletes, this event would have been to another location a long time ago.”
He continued, emphasizing, “We are just puppets in a puppet show. Duathlon is no triathlon, and changing the day like that in the middle of the night is disrespectful to the years of preparation of the athletes and to all (y) our fans that were going to watch live or on TV. What an appearance for a triathlon on the biggest scene.”
Marisol Casado, President of the International Triathlon Union, expressed her hope that the competition would proceed smoothly.