World Triathlon has detailed its plan for the River Seine this week as water quality continues to be a hot topic ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games Test Event.
The world’s finest triathletes and paratriathletes are due to enter the Seine from Thursday onwards for four days of stellar action as the countdown to next summer’s Games really starts to ramp up.
All appeared to be on course recently for the Seine to be in use after a €1.4billion cleanup operation to make it safe to swim for the first time in a century.
Then, just days ago, World Aquatics dropped the bombshell that it was cancelling the Open Water Swimming World Cup, planned for the Seine. The reason given was water quality dropping below acceptable standards due to recent heavy rainfall in the city.
World Triathlon responded by saying the weather forecast for the countdown to the Test Event gave it confidence the swim would be able to go ahead as planned this week. If it cannot, races would revert to Duathlon format.
Paris Test Event plan for Seine water quality
Now we know how World Triathlon, along with other relevant bodies, will come to a decision about the swim, with water quality tests being carried out by the city of Paris and health authorities. Results, and trends, are being checked and monitored by Paris 2024 and World Triathlon.
For the past two weeks, tests have been carried out twice daily, with the trends being monitored every 4-5 hours. World Triathlon says results will be public from Tuesday.
So when will a final decision be taken each day this week as to whether the swim goes ahead? Clearly all stakeholders are leaving a decision late to be as sure as possible that water quality is acceptable.
World Triathlon says that final decision will come at 0400 local time on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Racing each day is due to begin at 0800 local time.
