Paris 2024: Organisers confident Olympic triathlon will go ahead as planned despite pollution and heat concerns
Swimming in the River Seine was banned for a century because of the water quality.
Tests in June still showed levels of E.coli above the upper limits imposed by sports federations, but Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo recently swam in the river to try to prove it was safe.
Those carried out earlier this month showed the river was clean enough for swimming but heavy rain in Paris on Friday and Saturday has seen the quality diminish.
Thunderstorms are also forecast for Tuesday evening after a day of hot weather.
Tests are carried out daily, with Monday’s readings showing the water quality was below an acceptable standard.
“All the water that is coming from the mountains is now coming into the city. It is not a problem in the city itself – it is everything that’s coming from before,” Konstantinidis said.
“The trends we have are very positive for us for tomorrow.
“We have at least two systems of tracking the water quality to ensure that everybody is comfortable with the water quality, and if that’s the case, we will give the green light.”
Former triathlete and BBC commentator Annie Emmerson said athletes would want to familiarise themselves with the course before the events.
“The problem with the Seine and where it’s held is there is a strong current,” she said.
“When it comes to racing, if you’re going against the current, you need to know where to position yourself best.”
Emmerson backed the decision to cancel the training sessions based on the readings, adding: “To go into a familiarisation swim when the water quality isn’t great and actually get sick before the event would be devastating for an athlete.”
The open water swimming events on 7 and 8 August are also due to be held in the Seine, but they could be relocated to Vaires-sur-Marne on the Marne River, east of Paris, if necessary.
However, the triathlon swim cannot be moved because it is the first of the three legs – which is why the option of a duathlon, which would dropping the swimming leg, was discussed.
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