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PARIS (AP) — The men’s and women’s Olympic triathlons will go on Wednesday after days of delays and uncertainty over the quality of the Seine River’s water, organizers confirmed.
The decision to go ahead with the swim in the Seine during the triathlon is a victory for the city, organizers and athletes. Officials began implementing an ambitious plan, including a 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) infrastructure improvement project, to clean up the polluted river and insisted that the swimming portion of the race and next week’s marathon swim could be completed safely in the river.
Organizers reported early Wednesday that the latest tests on the waters showed they met quality standards.
High bacteria levels in the river forced the men’s test to be postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday, while the women’s test was originally scheduled for Wednesday. Test matches on Monday and Tuesday, which would have allowed athletes to familiarize themselves with the water, were also cancelled for the same reason.
The water quality of the Seine was directly affected by the rain, which caused wastewater to overflow into the river. Heavy rain fell during the opening ceremony on Friday and continued on Saturday.
Organizers had to announce cancellations every day starting on Sunday but remained confident the swim in the Seine would go ahead the next day. Days later, they released information about levels of E. coli and other bacteria that helped inform that decision.
Tests are carried out daily to measure levels of the faecal bacteria E. coli. World triathlon guidelines and a 2006 EU directive set out a range of levels from excellent to adequate. But experts stress these are just guidelines.
Aurélie Merlie, sports director of the Paris 2024 Olympics, told reporters on Tuesday that they took the sample 21 and a half hours before the decision was made.
Meier said Tuesday that the results showed “we are close to the level of a triathlon.”
“We know that sunlight and heat have a big impact on water quality,” he said, hoping the heat wave that hit France on Tuesday would help improve water quality.
Organizers said the swimming marathon, originally scheduled for August 8-9, may be moved to the Vares-sur-Marne nautical stadium, which will host rowing and canoeing events.
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