The swimming portion of the Olympic triathlon practice run was canceled due to high levels of pollution, including E. Coli bacteria exceeding authorized limits by 10 times in the Seine River after heavy rainfall.
Organizers are still aiming to host the full triathlon event in the Seine on July 30-31. A final test will be conducted to determine if the water quality has improved after France's €1.4-1.5 billion investment in cleaning up the river.
If E. coli levels exceed 1000 CFU/100mL, the swimming leg may be canceled, relocated, or dropped based on World Triathlon standards.
Concerns persist regarding the suitability of the river for competitive events due to high levels of E. coli in early June tests. Organizers are confident that the water quality will be sufficient for the actual triathlon competitions, prioritizing athlete health and safety, with contingency plans in place.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: The Guardian, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Reuters, USA Today, CNN, AP News, Le Monde, The Sun, Barron's, CBC, France 24, Nine, Sportstar, The Hindu, Libération, Zeit, The Sydney Morning Herald.