Postponement of Paralympic Triathlon Events Due to Seine River Water Quality Concerns
Paralympic triathlon events scheduled for Sunday in Paris have been postponed due to concerns regarding water quality in the Seine River, following significant rainfall in the area. According to a joint statement from the Paris 2024 organizing committee and World Triathlon, the eleven paratriathlon competitions will now take place on Monday, contingent upon forthcoming water tests verifying safety for participants.
Heavy rainstorms affecting the French capital on Friday and Saturday resulted in increased wastewater and runoff entering the Seine, consequently elevating bacterial levels, including E. coli. Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan explained the decision to delay the events was made out of an abundance of caution. “It rained a lot Friday, and then it also rained Saturday. So the international federation and the organizing committee decided to delay all of the events for a day, probably until tomorrow,” stated Rabadan to reporters on Sunday afternoon.
This postponement represents the second alteration to the paratriathlon schedule; the events were originally intended to span two days but were initially rescheduled to Sunday due to adverse weather predictions. The ongoing challenge with water quality is a setback for Paris, which aims to enhance the Seine’s condition for future public swimming, an ambitious commitment made in preparation for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Past incidents involving the men’s individual triathlon during the Olympics also saw delays due to high E. coli levels, and several scheduled test swims were cancelled. However, Deputy Mayor Rabadan expressed optimism regarding the prospects for the paratriathlon events on Monday, stating, “I can’t tell you my exact level of confidence, because it doesn’t matter. The scientific results matter; we will have it tomorrow, but the trend is actually positive to being able to have the competition tomorrow morning.”
Additionally, Lazreg Benel-Hadj, vice president of the French Swimming Federation, provided insight into previous health issues faced by athletes. Although some of the 53 athletes competing in August became ill post-event, no direct link was established between these illnesses and the Seine’s water quality. Four triathletes experienced sickness in the days following their respective competitions.
Paris authorities have affirmed their commitment to hosting athletic events in the Seine beyond the Paralympics. Deputy Mayor Rabadan assured stakeholders, “Yes, for sure, we will continue… there are so many reasons for that. First, because athletes are happy with that, and second, because the quality of the water will permit it in the future. So we will keep going in that direction. And that’s a massive legacy of the Olympic games.”
Historically, swimming in the Seine has been prohibited for over one hundred years primarily due to inadequate water quality. Preparations for the Games have seen an investment of €1.3 billion aimed at improving the Seine’s condition for competitive events. Nevertheless, concerns regarding fluctuating bacterial levels remain significant, jeopardizing both triathlon and marathon swimming events.
Post Comment