The first training swim for triathletes was canceled on Sunday due to the pollution of the Seine river.
The first practice of the triathletes competing in the Paris Olympics was canceled on Sunday due to the pollution of the Seine river.
The organizers of the Paris Olympics and the World Triathlon organization decided to cancel the training session in a meeting that discussed “water quality” and testing.
According to the organizers, the level of pollution in the river has increased due to the rains of the last few days. During heavy rains, untreated sewage may end up in the river.
However, the organizers say they are “confident” that the water quality will improve enough by next Tuesday, when the triathlon is supposed to start.
The pollution of the Seine River has been one of the most tense topics of the Paris Olympics. Earlier in July, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine to prove that efforts to clean it up have worked.
France has spent around 1.4 billion euros to clean the river for the Olympics. Swimming in the Seine has been prohibited for over a hundred years due to the river’s pollution.
Source: AFP
The story was updated on 28 July 2024 at 7:36 a.m. The story was updated with additional information.