Pollution forces last-minute postponement of Olympic men's triathlon in Paris

The Olympic men’s triathlon has been postponed just hours before its scheduled start due to unhealthy pollution levels in the River Seine. Last-minute water quality tests revealed excessive pollution, prompting organizers to delay the event by 24 hours.

The decision comes as a significant blow to Olympic officials who had repeatedly assured that the Seine would be safe for athletes to swim in. The men’s triathlon will now take place immediately following the women’s race on Wednesday.

A joint statement from Paris 2024 and World Triathlon attributed the pollution to heavy rains that deluged the French capital on Friday and Saturday. “Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes,” the statement read, following an early morning meeting at 3:30 am local time (0130 GMT).

“The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held. Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons.”

Organizers had already canceled training sessions in the Seine scheduled for Sunday and Monday due to unsafe pollution levels. Despite expressing confidence that the pollution would subside in time for Tuesday’s race, the bright, sunny conditions in Paris this week were not enough to mitigate the bacterial contamination.

French authorities have invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) over the past decade to clean up the Seine, including major new water treatment and storage facilities in and around Paris. However, heavy downpours continue to overwhelm the city’s underground drains and sewage systems, leading to untreated effluent being released into the waterway.

The exceptionally wet spring and early summer have caused the Seine to consistently fail water tests until the beginning of July, presenting a significant challenge for Paris 2024 organizers. The triathlon is the first Olympic event planned to take place in the river, with marathon swimming scheduled for the second week of the Games.

The postponement underscores the complexities and challenges of hosting outdoor events in natural water bodies, especially in urban settings. It also raises questions about the feasibility of future events planned in the Seine.