France spent a small fortune to try and cleanup the Seine in Paris ahead of the Olympics. Its $1.5 billion (with a B!!) efforts have proved entirely pointless thus far, which caused Tuesday’s triathlon event to be postponed on account of poop.
Contamination levels in the water were deemed unsafe for competition, again!
Practice was cancelled on Sunday and Monday as fecal bacteria continues to wreak havoc on the open water swimming events at the XXXIII Olympiad. The men’s and women’s triathlon are likely going to be cut down to a biathlon with just two legs — biking and running. All we can do is wait and see.
The Seine, which is often referred to as a river, is a drainage basin that runs through the heart of Paris. It has been illegal to swim in the Seine for more than 120 years because it is so dirty. Heavy rains overwhelm the city’s infrastructure, which causes sewage to leak from the underground pipes. The excrement spills into the Seine and spikes high levels of bacteria in the water. Mostly E. coli.
Obviously, neither amateur nor professional swimmers should take a tip in dangerously tainted water.
The Olympics are scrambling to swim in the Seine.
France tried to clean up the Seine in time for the Olympics this summer. Men’s triathlon was supposed to take place in the basin on Monday. Women’s triathlon is still scheduled for Tuesday.
However, World Triathlon bumped the men’s competition to Tuesday because bacteria levels were too high to hold the event as planned. And it might not get any better…
Rain is in the forecast for Tuesday night into Wednesday, which could make any progress in water quality over the last few days completely irrelevant. Should that happen, and bacteria levels do not drop overnight, both triathlons would be bumped to Friday. But even that is in serious jeopardy.
Worst case scenario, the triathlon becomes a biathlon. That seems like what is going to happen because there is no indication that the water conditions are going to improve. $1.5 billion down the drain!
Unless…
The Seine is also scheduled to hold open water swimming races next week. World Triathlon and World Aquatics have different requirements so it is far too early to say they won’t happen.
- World Triathlon requirements for inland waterways:
- Enterococci score: <200 is Excellent; <400 is Good; <330 is Sufficient
- E. Coli score: <500 is Excellent; <1,000 is Good; <900 is Sufficient
- World Aquatics requirements for inland waterways:
- Enterococci score: <200 is Excellent; <400 is Good; >400 is Unacceptable
- E. Coli score: <500 is Excellent; <1,000 is Good; >1,000 is Unacceptable
However, the triathlons are definitely in trouble. Water quality is not improving and it will only get worse with more rain. The expensive cleanup efforts were entirely pointless. It’s just a gamble from here on out!