The men’s Olympic triathlon scheduled to take place in Paris was postponed just hours before it was set to begin due to high pollution levels in the Seine River. The heavy rain over the weekend caused the pollution levels to rise, prompting organizers to reschedule the event for health reasons.
Athletes, including Team GB’s Alex Yee and Beth Potter, are facing an anxious wait to see if water quality improves before the rescheduled race on Wednesday. Thunder and lightning in the forecast could also pose additional challenges.
The decision to postpone the event was made following a 3.30am inspection and water quality test attended by various organizations including Paris 2024, World Triathlon, and the International Olympic Committee. The women’s race, originally scheduled for the same day, will now take place at 8am followed by the men’s race at 10.45am.
Swimming in the Seine has been banned for over a century, but recent renovations to the river have aimed to make it cleaner for the Games and for Parisians to swim in afterwards. Despite these efforts, heavy rain has led to an increase in sewage and E Coli in the river.
Organizers will provide updates on ticketing and broadcast of the events scheduled for Wednesday in the coming hours. The rescheduling of the men’s Olympic triathlon highlights the importance of athlete safety and the challenges of hosting events in unpredictable weather conditions.
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