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SCMP Sport

The first training session for triathletes at the Paris Olympics has been scrapped Sunday because of pollution in the River Seine, but Hong Kong’s Jason Ng Tai-long has not been affected by the change in plans.
Persistent rain in the French capital had raised concerns over the impact on the city’s water system, and organisers had previously said they would make a decision early on Sunday morning.
After a meeting and “water quality tests”, officials said “a joint decision was taken to cancel the swimming part of the triathlon orientation”.
According to World Triathlon and the Paris 2024 organising committee the water quality “did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held”.
However, the cancellation has not derailed Ng’s plans, as his team had expected this problem to arise.

“It has caused us no issues, as we planned to swim in the pool anyway,” the Hongkonger’s coach, Andrew Wright, told the Post. “We expected [Seine training] to be cancelled after that rain.”
Officials said they were confident the weather forecast for the next two days would mean the quality would “return to below limits before the start for of the triathlon competitions”
The river was declared clean enough for swimming in tests from mid-July, but doubts remained as to whether the waters would be fit for competition.
“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that the priority is the health of the athletes. The analysis carried out yesterday in the Seine showed water quality levels that … do not present sufficient guarantees to allow the event to take place,” the a joint statement from the two groups said.
Organisers blamed rain in recent days and said they were “confident” water quality would improve enough before the triathlon competition is expected to start on July 30.
In the event of heavy rain, untreated sewage can be washed into the river.
If the quality is below standards a “Plan B” involves postponing the events for a few days or moving the marathon swimming to Vaires-Sur-Marne, on the Marne river east of Paris.
On July 17, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine along with Paris 2024 chief organiser Tony Estanguet.


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Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Persistent rain in French capital has hit the city’s water system, but officials confident races will go ahead as planned later this week


Persistent rain in French capital has hit the city’s water system, but officials confident races will go ahead as planned later this week.


Triathlon