The first Olympic triathlon training session scheduled for this morning has been cancelled due to pollution in the River Seine after rain over the past two days, the organisation said on Sunday.
The Paris 2024 organising committee, the International Triathlon Federation and local authorities have taken a “joint decision to cancel the swimming portion” scheduled for this Sunday because “water levels do not provide sufficient guarantees,” they said in a statement.
“This is due to the rains that occurred in Paris on 26 and 27 July. Based on the weather forecast for the next 48 hours, Paris2024 and World Triathlon are confident that water quality will return to minimum limits before the triathlon competitions begin,” it said.
The organizations recall that it has already been verified that “under summer conditions (more sun, higher temperatures, prolonged absence of rain) the quality of water in the Seine improves significantly.”
Recently, the Paris2024 organization admitted that the triathlon could become a duathlon if the Seine water conditions were not necessary, eliminating the opening swimming segment and keeping the cycling and running.
The men’s event, featuring Portugal’s Vasco Vilaça and Ricardo Batista, will take place on July 30, the day before Melanie Santos and Maria Tomé take part in the women’s individual event. Four Portuguese will compete in the mixed relay on August 5.
The open water swimming competition in which Angelique Andre will take part on August 8 may be moved to the Nautical Centre of Vayres-sur-Marne, the venue for the canoeing and rowing competitions.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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