The famous Seine River is a famous landmark, but it has caused disruptions in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Due to the poor quality of its waters, the men’s and women’s triathlon events have been postponed. This is because the health and safety of the athletes were at risk, and no one has been able to train in the river since the opening ceremony. The only exception was Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who took a swim in the river two weeks ago to show off the clean water after investing 1.4 billion euros in its clean-up.
The triathlon has been rescheduled for Wednesday morning, but this fiasco has caused a negative impact on the event, with the organizers and local authorities claiming that the Seine River was ready to host the triathlon. However, the recent rain in Paris has brought back pollutants, such as enterococci and E.coli, making it unsuitable for swimming.
This could have been foreseen and a contingency plan could have been put in place, but the organizers were determined to use the Seine River as the country’s image. Unfortunately, this has taken the spotlight away from the athletes and has become the main focus of the event. It is surprising that there was no previous analysis of the river’s conditions during similar dates, as the increased flow and pollutants are well-known. It seems that the French authorities were willing to take a risk by hosting a sporting event in the Seine River, disregarding the negative connotations and risks to the athletes’ health and safety.
The victim in this situation is the triathlon, a popular international sport, and the World Triathlon Federation can do little to change the situation. Some countries even threatened to withdraw their athletes due to the risks involved. The organizers have suspended training and the International Olympic Committee has also raised concerns about the athletes’ well-being. The decision to use the Seine River as a venue has caused disruptions and has been a waste of the 1.4 billion euros invested in cleaning it. The total cost of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is estimated to be around 15 billion euros, which is comparable to the costs of the London Olympics.
This fiasco has been a major disappointment for the athletes who were looking forward to competing in such a unique venue. It is hoped that in the future, common sense and consideration for the athletes’ well-being will prevail in the decision-making process.
