The men’s triathlon at the Paris Olympic Games has been postponed after the latest water quality tests were undertaken in the River Seine early on Tuesday (July 30) morning.
Great Britain's Alex Yee was due to compete in an event that will now take place at 9.45am BST on Wednesday after the women’s race.
Heavy rain on Friday and Saturday exacerbated the issue while there were also concerns about the water flow after excess rainfall.
Olympic organisers and World Triathlon said: “It has been decided to schedule the men’s triathlon event on July 31 at 10.45 (CEST). The women’s triathlon is due to take place the same day at 8am.
“Both triathlons are subject to the forthcoming water tests complying with the established World Triathlon thresholds for swimming.
“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that the priority is the health of the athletes. The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held.
“Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control, such as the rain which fell over Paris on 26 and 27 July, can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons.
“Despite the improvement on the water quality levels in the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits.”
What is the River Seine famous for?
The River Seine, France’s third-longest river, extends 485 miles from Dijon to the English Channel and is divided into five parts: the Petite Seine (Small Seine) from the sources to Montereau-Fault-Yonne; the Haute Seine (Upper Seine) from Montereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris; the Traversée de Paris (the Paris waterway); the Basse Seine (Lower Seine) from Paris to Rouen; and the Seine maritime (Maritime Seine) from Rouen to the English Channel.
It is famous for flowing through Paris, passing by iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum.
The Seine’s historical significance includes the 841 Viking plundering of Neustria, the burning of Rouen, and the siege of France.
The river has influenced the numbering of Parisian streets, with perpendicular or oblique streets starting their numbers from the side closest to the Seine and parallel streets numbering in the direction of the current.
Renowned for its scenic beauty, historic bridges, and romantic charm, the Seine remains central to Parisian culture and history, attracting tourists and artists worldwide.
Is it legal to swim in the River Seine?
Swimming in the Seine has been banned since 1923 because of high pollution levels.
However, Paris Olympics 2024 preparations included a clean-up operation to make it usable for the Games and further showcase the city.
Is swimming in the River Seine safe?
After the tests were carried out on July 26, results showed the water quality in the Seine was slightly below the standards needed to authorise swimming.
Daily water quality tests measure levels of fecal bacteria known as E. coli.
Monitoring group Eau de Paris carried out the tests. These showed that at the Bras Marie, E. coli levels were then above the safe limit of 900 colony-forming units per 100 millilitres, determined by European rules, when Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip on July 17.
The site reached a value of 985 on the day the mayor swam with Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet and the top government official for the Paris region, Marc Guillaume. People from local swimming clubs joined in.
