Heavy rainfall over the weekend has worsened the river's water quality issues, leaving Olympic athletes angry and tourists disappointed.
The Paris Olympics organizing committee has announced the postponement of the men's triathlon event, originally scheduled on Tuesday. The decision came after the final water quality test in the Seine River, the venue for the swimming portion of the triathlon, showed unhealthy levels of pollution.
The organizers cited heavy rainfall over the weekend as a factor that worsened the river's water quality, raising concerns about athletes' safety. The competition will be rescheduled for 24 hours.
This last-minute delay has left athletes feeling "somewhat angry," according to reports. Many had woken up early to prepare for the event, only to learn of the postponement. The news has also disappointed tourists who had traveled specifically to watch the competition. A German tourist expressed his frustration, saying it was "regrettable" to be informed at the last moment.
This isn't the first time water quality has disrupted the Olympic schedule. Earlier, athlete training sessions in the Seine River were canceled for two consecutive days due to similar concerns.
The organizing committee had previously assured that pollution levels would improve with better weather conditions. However, this sudden change of plans might wash their confidence away as their efforts to maintain water quality go down the drain.