Pollution in the River Seine has disrupted the Paris 2024 Games, with open-water swimming training canceled on Tuesday.
Water quality issues have forced the cancellation of a swim session for the fifth time since the start of the Olympics Games on 28th July, delaying the men’s race, and raising concerns about the Seine’s water quality ahead of upcoming marathon swimming events.
Water tests done earlier showed improved enterococci bacteria levels in the Seine, with another familiarisation session set for Wednesday. Events are expected to proceed as planned, but organisers have a backup plan to move marathon swimming to Vaires-sur-Marne if needed.
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The Seine’s water quality woes have been a recurring problem for Paris 2024, leading to a day’s delay for the men’s triathlon and a second consecutive postponement of the mixed relay practice swim on Sunday.
Belgium withdrew from the mixed-relay event on August 4 after athlete Claire Michel, 35, contracted an E. coli infection, as reported by local news. Although it’s uncertain whether her illness is connected to other cases or related to swimming in contaminated water, this incident has raised questions about the safety of athletes.
