More Bad News for Olympic Swimming Plans in River Seine

Practice for the Olympic Triathlon, set to be held in the River Seine, has been canceled for the second day in a row due to the river’s pollution. Paris 2024 officials confirmed the news in a statement to People on Monday morning.

The practice, which was scheduled for 8 a.m. local time, was called off shortly before “following a meeting on water quality.” Practice was similarly canceled on Sunday, July 28, over similar concerns.

"Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterates that the priority is the health of the athletes," the statement read. "The tests carried out in the Seine yesterday 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. This is due to rain that has fallen on Paris on 26 and 27 July and the impact it had on the Seine river."

However, Olympic officials said they are hopeful that the water quality will improve when the competitions begin in earnest later this week. They explained that, through examining previous trends, the water quality should improve dramatically within the next 24 to 48 hours. The men’s triathlon is set to be held tomorrow, July 30, while the women’s triathlon is scheduled for July 31.

"Given the weather forecast for the next 36 hours, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon are confident that water quality will return to below limits before the start of the triathlon competitions on July 30," the statement explained. “As observed in July, with summer conditions (more sunshine, higher temperatures, prolonged absence of rain) water quality in the Seine has improved significantly."

“We are confident we’re going to be able to hold the competition tomorrow and Wednesday,” Paris 2024 chief executive Étienne Thobois told the press (via CNN). He added that “we still have a contingency plan that is in place for Friday just in case.”

Thobois elaborated that the decision was made primarily out of concern for the athletes’ health. “We are very respectful of the athletes and they are the heart of the Olympic Games,” he said.

Anne Hidalgo, Paris’ mayor, led a much-publicized crusade to clean up the Seine prior to the Olympic games. Earlier this month, Hidalgo swam about 300 feet through the river in order to show that it was safe for athletes.