PARIS, July 29 — Paris Olympics organisers cancelled the triathlon swimming training session for the second day in a row today, with 24 hours until the men’s race, after heavy rain affected water quality levels in the Seine.
Fifty-five triathletes are scheduled to line up at 8am (0600 GMT) tomorrow on a floating pontoon next to the Pont Alexandre III and dive into the Seine, marking the first time athletes have competed in the river at an Olympics since 1900.
The women’s individual race is scheduled for Wednesday, also at 8am.
A swimmable Seine is a key legacy Games organisers aim to leave behind for Paris residents.
France has invested some US$1.4 billion (RM6.5 billion) in new wastewater infrastructure to cut sewage flowing into the river, and city authorities have announced plans for three public swimming sites to open by June next year.
Yesterday’s training session was also cancelled after tests carried out on Saturday showed water quality did not meet the required threshold.
The running and bike training sessions remain unaffected.
“Given the weather forecast for the next 36 hours, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon are confident water quality will return to below limits before the start of the triathlon competitions on July 30,” organisers said in a statement today.
— Reuters
