There’s an excessive amount of E. coli within the Seine for athletes to swim in it

The lads’s triathlon occasion on the Paris Olympics was postponed at present due to air pollution ranges within the Seine, the place the swimming leg of the occasion was speculated to be held. Now, the occasion is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday — if the water high quality improves by then.

Micro organism within the river, together with E. coli, has been a priority main as much as the Summer season Video games. Paris spent the equal of roughly $1.5 billion on cleanup efforts earlier than the Olympics to forestall sewage and wastewater from contaminating the Seine, The Related Press stories. However rain appears to have stymied efforts to maintain micro organism at protected ranges.

“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their precedence is the well being of the athletes. The checks carried out within the Seine at present revealed water high quality ranges that didn’t present enough ensures to permit the occasion to be held,” World Triathlon, the game’s worldwide governing physique, stated in an announcement at present.

Human fecal contamination is “an important danger issue” in triathlon competitions, in response to World Triathlon. Swimming in water contaminated with feces can doubtlessly result in pores and skin rashes, diarrhea, and E. coli infections. And athletes might be extra susceptible to an infection throughout or proper after the occasion as a consequence of hormonal stress and different components which may have an effect on the immune system.

E. coli ranges ought to keep at or beneath 900 colony-forming items per 100 milliliters for “enough” water high quality, in response to World Triathlon. Only one of 4 check websites alongside the Seine confirmed ranges beneath that restrict, AP stories.

Coaching occasions had already been postponed with elevated micro organism ranges following the downpour over the opening ceremony. Heavy rain can overwhelm sewage and wastewater programs, permitting untreated water to achieve the river.

There’s extra rain within the forecast for Paris tonight. However for now, each the ladies’s and the lads’s triathlon occasions are scheduled for Wednesday at 8AM and 10:45AM native time, respectively. There’s additionally a backup date of August 2nd.