Seine Water Quality Alters Paralympic Triathlon Schedule

The Seine River's water quality became a sticking point yet again for athletes, this time at the Paralympic Games, prompting a schedule change for para triathlon races. Paris 2024 organizers announced on Thursday that all 11 medal events will now take place on one day, September 1, rather than over two days. This decision aims to offer "as much certainty as possible" based on the weather forecast, according to the organizers.

Water quality in the Seine has been problematic at recent events, including the Olympics. The bacteria levels in the river can vary significantly with weather changes. Heavy rain often leads to wastewater runoff, elevating the bacteria presence. Organizers plan to continue daily monitoring of the river's conditions and will make decisions on athletes' preparatory swims accordingly. They said events could be moved to September 2 and 3 if necessary. Despite the concerns, familiarization swims carried on as scheduled Thursday morning. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)