Due to the intense rains that have affected Paris in the last two days, it was decided to suspend triathletes’ training in the Seine River, due to the deteriorated water quality.
It is worth noting that days before the inauguration, Mayor Anne Hidalgo went for a swim in the river, in order to demonstrate that the place was ready for the arrival of the athletes.
The reason why the training sessions were suspended
On Saturday night, the Olympic Games Organizing Committee, the International Triathlon Federation, and local authorities agreed to cancel the training sessions scheduled for Sunday morning, as the water levels do not provide the necessary guarantees for the athletes, as reported in a statement.
Despite this, it is expected that the water quality will improve in the coming days so that the competitions scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday can take place without any issues.
"Given the weather forecast for the next 48 hours, Paris 2024 and the Triathlon World Championships are confident that the water quality will return to be below the limits before the start of the triathlon competitions on July 30," the statement said.
It should be noted that they did not specify the levels of E. coli and enterococci that have been recorded, the key bacteria for evaluating the water quality of the river. This issue remains one of the major challenges to be faced in the lead-up to the Paris Games competitions.
When will the next competitions be?
The swimming tests of the triathlon are scheduled in the river: July 30 for men, July 31 for women, and August 5 for the mixed relay.
Likewise, the open water marathons, both for women and men, must be held at the Sena on July 31st and August 5th, respectively.
These activities are part of the Paris 2024 strategy to ensure that the city’s most iconic locations play a prominent role in the Games.