Whether the race will proceed on Wednesday hinges on further water testing. Organizers have scheduled Friday as a backup date for individual races, and Aug. 6 for the mixed relay if water quality levels do not improve in time.
World Triathlon assured that it would keep the 55 triathletes and ticket holders updated in real-time regarding the postponement. Coaches will convene at 8 a.m. local time for additional information.
Training sessions for the event were called off on Monday, for the second time in two days, due to water quality concerns following heavy rainfall in Paris over the weekend. The opening ceremony on Friday was also affected by the downpour, raising worries about the river’s water quality.
Organizers expressed optimism on Monday that a warm day would help lower water levels and slow the current, according to Paris 2024 Organising Committee CEO Etienne Thobois.
A total of 55 triathletes are set to compete in the race, starting from a floating pontoon near the Pont Alexandre III, where they will plunge into the Seine. The 2024 Paris Olympics will witness athletes competing in the Seine River at the Olympics for the first time since 1900.
France has invested around $1.4 billion in new wastewater infrastructure to minimize sewage discharge into the river in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
