Paris Olympics Cancels Open Water Swim Training Due To Poor Water Quality In Seine River
This is the fifth time a swimming event in the river has been cancelled during these Games.
By Tamara Jayne — 07 Aug 2024, 11:23 AM
Paris Olympic organisers decided to cancel the open water swimming training in the Seine River on Tuesday, 6 August, due to pollution
According to Al Jazeera, this marks the fifth time the organisers have cancelled a swimming event in the river since the Olympics began this year.
However, just a day before the cancellation, the triathlon mixed team relay was held in the same river, raising questions about why the event was allowed to proceed.
Despite France's initial assurances that the water was safe for Olympic events, a statement from World Aquatics and the organising committee revealed that one out of four readings for enterococci bacteria — an indicator of faecal contamination — exceeded the authorised limit.
E. coli bacteria are linked to faecal matter in the water, and even a mouthful of contaminated water containing high levels of this bacteria can lead to diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, or sepsis
Other bacteria such as Leptospira, which is transmitted by rodent urine but can also be found in contaminated water, can cause severe kidney disease.
Waterborne bacteria and parasites, such as cercarial larvae often found in water populated by waterfowl, can also lead to other health problems.
Multiple athletes reportedly fell seriously ill after competing in the triathlon events
Swiss officials reported that Adrien Briffod, who competed in the men's triathlon last week, fell ill with a stomach infection. Although, the statement clarified that it was "impossible to say" if it was linked to the river, as other delegations did not report similar infections.
AP News also reported that Belgium had to withdraw from the mixed relay triathlon after one of its athletes, Claire Michel, who swam in the Seine River, fell ill. It is also unclear if her sickness was related to river pollution.
Belgium's Claire Michel pulled out of the mixed relay triathlon after falling sick.
Image via Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters/CBC
Olympics organisers did not comment on Michel's sickness but confirmed that the mixed relay triathlon event would proceed on Monday, 5 August, as water quality tests conducted on the day of the individual triathlon races showed "very good" levels.
The organisers, as well as representatives from World Triathlon, the International Olympic Committee, and weather authorities reviewed the tests.
Swimming in the Seine River has been banned since 1923, with some exceptions, due to severe pollution issues
This ban resulted from the city's wastewater, including sewage, flowing into the river instead of being treated at a water treatment plant.
However, extensive efforts were made to clean up the river in preparation for the Paris Olympics 2024. In recent weeks, rainfall had led to increased levels of E. coli and other bacterial colonies in the river.
Heavy rain during the first weekend of the Games had forced organisers to reschedule certain events involving the Seine River for health reasons.
Athletes competing in the swimming race in the Seine, during the mixed relay triathlon on 5 August.
Image via Franck Fife/AFP/Al Jazeera