PARIS (Reuters) – Organisers cleared the Olympic women’s and men’s triathlons to go ahead on Wednesday after the latest Seine river water tests showed lower levels of bacteria, ending days of uncertainty over whether the central Paris swim was viable after heavy rains.
The decision came as a relief for the 110 athletes expecting to compete on Wednesday, and for Paris authorities who have promised residents a swimmable Seine as a long-term legacy of the Games, with the triathlon a very public test.
“The results of the latest water analyses, received at 3.20 a.m., have been assessed as compliant by World Triathlon allowing for the triathlon competitions to take place,” Paris 2024 and World Triathlon said in a statement.
The women’s race is set to start at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) with the men’s event immediately after at 10:45 a.m.
(Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
