A training event for the swimming leg of the mixed triathlon relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics was canceled due to deteriorating water quality in the River Seine. The decision was made after tests revealed that heavy rain on July 31st and August 1st had impacted the water quality in the venue.
The training session, scheduled for Sunday morning, was called off as a precautionary measure. The mixed triathlon relay competition, featuring 17 teams of two men and two women, is still set to take place on Monday morning.
Last week, training sessions for both the men's and women's triathlon had to be canceled for similar reasons. Additionally, the men's race had to be postponed by a day due to concerns over water quality levels.
It is worth noting that swimming in the Seine had been prohibited for over a century until the Paris Olympics. However, France invested approximately $1.5 billion (1.4 billion euros) in efforts to clean up the river for swimming events during and after the Games.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently swam in the river to demonstrate her confidence in its water quality. She also pledged to install a swimming pool in the river post-Olympics. The French sports minister also took a swim in the Seine, showcasing the improvements made to the water quality.
