Organisers again cancel open water training in polluted Seine
Training for open water swimming at the Paris Olympics was cancelled on Tuesday due to poor water quality in the River Seine. This marks the fifth time organisers have acted to protect athletes’ health.
The previous four cancellations were related to triathlon events in the French capital, with the men’s triathlon being postponed by a day.
Despite a €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) investment to upgrade Paris’s sewerage and water treatment systems, the Seine has consistently failed water quality tests throughout the Games.
Organisers released a statement early Tuesday announcing the cancellation of the marathon swimming “familiarisation session.”
“After the daily situation meeting this morning between Ville de Paris, Paris 2024 and World Aquatics, it has been decided that the familiarisation session to take place today, 6 August 2024 is cancelled,” the statement said.
Several triathletes have expressed frustration over the repeated cancellations and ongoing uncertainty. Despite earlier pollution concerns and illness reports, the River Seine was deemed clean enough for the mixed triathlon relay on Monday.
The event ended in a thrilling finish, with Germany’s Laura Lindemann securing gold, holding off strong competition from the United States and Britain.
The women’s 10-kilometre marathon swim is scheduled for early Thursday, with the men’s event following the next day, though it remains to be seen whether both will go ahead as planned.