The swimming portion of the triathlon competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics could be affected by poor water quality in the city's Seine River. Paris 2024 Organizing Committee President Tony Estinguett said water pollution was a challenge and swimming competitions could be postponed until later in the Games.
Triathlon plans were called into question this week after a water charity published a report finding alarming levels of bacteria such as E. coli in the Seine water.
Surfrider Foundation Europe completed 14 tests on water samples taken from two locations on the river between September 2023 and March 2024. All but one were found to have poor water quality.
The Olympic triathlon involves a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride, and 6.2 mile (10 km) run. The Olympic competition is scheduled to take place on July 30th and 31st, with athletes starting their swim from the Pont Alexandre III. After swimming two laps, he climbs the 32 steps to the top of the bridge again, starts riding his bike, and finally runs.
The Surfrider Foundation said in a social media post that samples revealed high levels of pollution at the Pont Alexandre III, “casting a shadow over the water quality of the Seine.”
The group blamed rain and malfunctioning sewage systems for the contamination and warned that the bacteria could cause infections such as staph. They called on officials to take action before athletes jump into the river.
The Guardian first reported that when asked about the E. coli issue, Estangue told Sport Accord this week that they were working hard on it.
“When we decided to hold this competition on the Seine, we knew it would be a big challenge, but with the cooperation of the authorities we have a large investment program and when we talk about heritage, this project is a great ” he said.
Mr. Estanguet said he was confident that the race would be held on the Seine, as it has a contingency plan and is scheduled to take place at the start of the Olympic Games, with the possibility of the race being postponed due to rain. He added that
“But there's a risk. There's always a risk,” he said. “I was an athlete. I was participating.” [the] The World Championships have been postponed due to flooding. In sports that depend on natural conditions, you have to adapt. That's part of my flexibility in the sport. ”
Paris has been cleaning up the Seine so people can swim again, but plans to hold a swimming competition ahead of the Olympics have fallen through due to sewage problems. Still, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he intends to play in the river once it is clean, and the city says that will happen by 2025.
Last month, water pollution in another of Europe's major rivers came close to canceling the sports festival. Environmental group River Action works with organizers of the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race to draw up guidelines for rowing in the water after 'alarmingly high' levels of E. coli have been detected in parts of London's River Thames He said he did.
The annual boat race went ahead despite British authorities finding E. coli levels up to 10 times higher than what they consider worst in public baths.
CBS News has reached out to the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee for further comment and is awaiting a response.
Haley Ott contributed to this report.
Caitlin O'Kane
