The organizers of the Olympic triathlon in Paris have stated that the swimming portion of the event may face delays or even cancellation if the water quality in the Seine River does not see an improvement.
The river, which runs through the French capital, is scheduled to be the venue for multiple Olympic events this summer. However, the Surfrider Foundation Europe, an international NGO, has raised concerns about the “alarming” levels of bacteria in the water. In a recent warning, the group revealed that only one out of 14 Seine water samples collected over a six-month period showed satisfactory water quality.
The president of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee acknowledged the significant challenge posed by E. coli yesterday. He mentioned that the triathlon event might face delays, or the swimming portion could be canceled if the water quality deteriorates.
The Olympics official was quoted by the media as saying, “In sports, there is always a level of risk that we must acknowledge.” He emphasized that there is no alternative venue available, as there is only one designated location for the event.
During heavy rainstorms, the primary threat arises as water inundates the Parisian sewage system, posing a risk of overflow. The surplus rainwater is subsequently released into the river, potentially resulting in contamination. A sewage leak last summer resulted in the cancellation of a pre-Olympic swimming competition. Within the last six months, data revealed that levels of E. coli and enterococci bacteria exceeded the maximum European permitted thresholds by two to three times, as reported by the Surfrider Foundation.
Despite Paris investing over €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in an effort to enable safe swimming in the Seine for the first time in a century, pollution levels remained high. The plan for the river, costing €1.4 billion, focused on infrastructure improvements such as new underground pipes and pumps. Water quality experts confirmed that the concentration levels of Enterococcus and E.coli, which are key indicators of fecal matter in freshwater, were sufficiently low to allow for safe swimming in the river.
French President Emmanuel Macron solemnly promised last month to take a swim in the Seine River, seemingly to demonstrate its cleanliness before the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris this July and August.