Triathlon competitions postponed at 2024 Olympics due to Seine pollution
30 July 2024 11:45
Due to the rains, the water quality in the Seine has deteriorated, so the Olympic men’s triathlon competition was postponed to 31 July. The water will be tested again tomorrow. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the International Triathlon Union.
“Unfortunately, uncontrollable meteorological events, such as the rain that fell over Paris on 26 and 27 July, may change the water quality and force us to postpone the event for medical reasons. Despite the improvement in water quality in recent hours, some areas of the swim still exceed acceptable standards,” the statement said.
The Organising Committee of the Games and World Triathlon stressed that the priority is the health of the athletes.
“Tests carried out today in the Seine revealed a level of water quality that does not provide sufficient guarantees for the competition,” World Triathlon said.
Taking into account the latest weather information, it was decided to schedule the men’s triathlon competition on 31 July at 10:45. On the same day, the women’s triathlon will take place at 8:00. Before both competitions, experts will measure the water quality, which should meet the established standards for swimming.
If the pollution of the Seine River again prevents the start, both races may be postponed to a reserve day – Friday, 2 August.
It should be noted that today, on the fourth official day of the 2024 Olympics, athletes are competing for medals in shooting, fencing, swimming, triathlon, table tennis, gymnastics, rugby sevens, and judo.
Among the athletes competing on this day are tennis players Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostiuk and Diana Yastremska (who will play in a pair with Kostiuk), and 2024 Olympic silver medallist Oleksandr Khyzhnyak. On this day, the women’s national fencing team will also compete for a medal, starting with the quarter-finals.
Also today, Ukraine will play a decisive match in the football tournament group against Argentina.
In total, the Games programme includes 32 sports with 10,500 athletes competing for 329 sets of medals.
Ukraine is represented by 140 athletes competing in 23 sports.
The 2024 Olympics will run until 11 August.
