The mixed relay triathlon test event for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been canceled, organizers announced on Sunday August 20. The results of the analyzes of the water of the river “not offering the guarantees necessary for the good performance of the swimming test”.
“Faced with the persistence of discrepancies in the water quality analysis results, the decision was taken jointly to switch the mixed relay test event to a duathlon competition”, details in a joint press release the organizing committee and the International Federation, World Triathlon, which had already opted for the same solution, namely cycling and running only, for the paratriathlon test event on Saturday.
Third race canceled
Less than a year from the Olympic deadline, this is the third test event troubled by the quality of the river water in two weeks. Earlier this month, the open water swim was cancelled.
Already in question, like Saturday for the paratriathlon, the concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. “Laboratory sampling had a slightly higher rate” than the level allowed by World Triathlon regulations, Paris City Hall sports deputy Pierre Rabadan said on Saturday during a press briefing. “It was slightly above 1,000” colony forming units per 100 millilitres, he said.
In any case, there is no question of a plan B in a year for the Games, declared the chairman of the organizing committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tony Estanguet, on Saturday: “There is no solution for moving the ‘test. The triathlon and open water swimming will take place in the Seine next year. »