Current:Home > StocksOlympic men's triathlon event postponed due to pollution levels in Seine river-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Olympic men's triathlon event postponed due to pollution levels in Seine river
View Date:2025-01-11 01:05:06
PARIS — Pollution in the Seine river forced Olympic organizers on Tuesday to postpone the men's triathlon event, threatening to derail a centerpiece of the Paris Games where a massive, $1.5 billion clean-up effort aimed to allow athletes to compete in the notoriously dirty waterway that runs through the heart of the city.
A statement issued by Paris 2024 and World Triathlon said tests showed the water quality in the Seine was still below an acceptable standard for a race day. The men's race has been postponed to Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. local time (4:45 a.m. ET), immediately following the women's event, which is scheduled for 8 a.m.
"Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control, such as the rain which fell over Paris on 26 and 27 July, can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons," the World Triathlon statement said. "Despite the improvement of water quality levels over the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits."
TOO DIRTY:Paris Olympics cancels triathlon training session because of poor water quality in Seine
Both triathlons remain subject to water tests complying with the established World Triathlon thresholds for swimming, and the original contingency competition day of Friday, Aug. 2 also remains in place, the World Triathlon statement said. The mixed triathlon relay event is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5 with a contingency day of Tuesday, Aug. 6. Two training sessions had already been canceled ahead of the race-day postponement.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
If the water quality is still not deemed acceptable, the swimming leg could be dropped. The race would become a duathlon, with athletes competing in biking and running legs only. The Seine also is due to be used for the outdoor marathon swimming event. The women's marathon kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 8; the men's a day later.
There are five Americans competing in the Paris Olympics triathlon: Morgan Pearson and Seth Rider are the American men. Taylor Knibb, Taylor Spivey and Kirsten Kasper are the U.S. women. Gwen Jorgensen is the only American to have ever won an Olympic triathlon gold. She did so in 2016 at the Rio Olympics.
POOPING IN OLYMPIC RIVER?Not even the 2024 Paris games can bring divided France together
French authorities have banned swimming in the Seine since 1923 because of pollution and busy boat traffic Organizers have touted cleaning up with river, especially its elevated levels of E.coli bacteria, as a selling point for the Games. They have said that if cleanup effort is successful, the river will open to public swimming in 2025.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip in the Seine's murky waters about a week before the start of the Games. At that time organizers said tests showed it was clean enough for outdoor swimming events at the Olympics.
veryGood! (64)
Related
- Suspected shooter and four others are found dead in three Kansas homes, police say
- Indiana nears law allowing more armed statewide officials at state Capitol
- Horned 'devil comet' eruption may coincide with April 8 total solar eclipse: What to know
- Automaker Rivian pauses construction of its $5 billion electric truck plant in Georgia
- 'This dude is cool': 'Cross' star Aldis Hodge brings realism to literary detective
- Katy Perry's Backside-Baring Red Carpet Look Will Leave You Wide Awake
- 'The shooter didn't snap': Prosecutors say Michigan dad could have prevented mass killing
- Teen Mom's Jenelle Evans Breaks Silence on Split from Husband David Eason
- Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says he was detained in airport over being ‘disoriented’
- Iowa House OKs bill to criminalize death of an “unborn person” despite IVF concerns
Ranking
- Bev Priestman fired as Canada women’s soccer coach after review of Olympic drone scandal
- Woman whose husband killed his 5-year-old daughter granted parole for perjury
- Rust weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed convicted of involuntary manslaughter in accidental shooting
- New House bill would require TikTok divest from parent company ByteDance or risk U.S. ban
- Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
- How many calories and carbs are in a banana? The 'a-peeling' dietary info you need.
- See Who Is Attending the Love Is Blind Season Six Reunion
- Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, once allies, no longer see eye to eye. Here's why.
Recommendation
-
American Idol’s Triston Harper, 16, Expecting a Baby With Wife Paris Reed
-
NFL mock draft: Broncos, Eagles aim to fill holes left by Russell Wilson, Jason Kelce
-
Millions of Americans overseas can vote — but few do. Here's how to vote as an American living abroad.
-
Margaret Qualley to Star as Amanda Knox in New Hulu Series
-
Bohannan requests a recount in Iowa’s close congressional race as GOP wins control of House
-
Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns out indefinitely with torn meniscus, per report
-
Alabama lawmakers have approved a school choice program
-
Cole Brauer becomes 1st American woman to race sailboat alone and nonstop around world