Olympic triathlon events to go ahead after Seine's water quality meets standards

The Olympic women's and men's triathlon races will go ahead with swims in the Seine River after the water met quality standards, organisers say.

Olympic triathlon races will go ahead on the Seine River after new testing showed the water quality was adequate. Source: SIPA USA / Belga/Jasper Jacobs

After days of delays and uncertainty over water quality in the Seine River, the women's and men's Olympic triathlon races will go ahead.

Paris Games organisers said early on Wednesday (local time) that the latest tests of the water showed compliance with quality standards, allowing the swim legs to be held in the river.

Elevated levels of bacteria in the river had pushed the men's race originally planned for Tuesday to Wednesday, when the women's competition is also scheduled.

Test events meant to allow the athletes to familiarise themselves with the course had already been cancelled for the same reason on Sunday and Monday.

Being able to proceed with the Seine swim legs for the triathlon competitions is a win for the city, Olympics organisers and the athletes.

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Officials undertook an ambitious plan, including 1.4 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in infrastructure improvements, to clean up the long-polluted Seine and have been steadfast in their insistence that the swimming portion of the triathlon and the marathon swimming events next week could safely be held in the river.

The water quality in the Seine is directly affected by rainfall which can lead to wastewater runoff flowing into the river.

Heavy rains fell during Friday's Olympic opening ceremony, and rain continued for most of the day on Saturday.