Olympic triathlon training planned for Sunday has been canceled due to pollution levels in the Seine.
The water quality in the river has been the subject of much debate in the run up to Paris but tests carried out ahead of the Games indicated it would be safe to compete in.
However, the heavy rain in recent days which also hampered Friday night’s opening ceremony has seen that now change with authorities forced to step in.
The planned swim leg of the triathlon familiarization, which was due to be held on Sunday morning local time, will no longer take place.
A joint statement from Paris 2024 organizers and the sport’s governing body, World Triathlon, insisted “the priority is the health of the athletes”.
“The tests carried out in the Seine yesterday (Saturday) revealed water quality levels that in the view of the international federation, World Triathlon, did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held,” it read. “This is due to rain that has fallen on Paris on 26 and 27 July.”
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The running and bike familiarizations will go ahead as planned, it added.
The triathlon is scheduled to begin with the men’s individual competition on Tuesday before the women’s event on Wednesday…
