Organisers of [Paris 2024 ](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/paris-olympics-2024/)have admitted that the triathlon events could be postponed or become a duathlon for the first time in Olympic history because of pollution in the Seine river.
Tony Estanguet, the president of Paris 2024, admitted on Tuesday that E. coli was “one of the bigger challenges” facing the organisers and, while “very confident” that the water quality will sufficiently improve, disclosed that contingencies were in place.
And, if the water quality remained below the required levels throughout the Games, the event would simply be held without the swimming component and become a run-bike-run duathlon.
“In sport, there’s a risk – there’s always a risk,” said Estanguet, who stressed that there was “only one location” and no question of finding a back-up venue.
Estanguet, who is himself a triple Olympic champion in canoeing, said that uncertainty was part of open water sport and pointed out that the triathlon test events took place last summer in the Seine, which were respectively won by Great Britain’s Alex Yee and Beth Potter.
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***The Telegraph reports:***
Organisers of [Paris 2024 ](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/paris-olympics-2024/)have admitted that the triathlon events could be postponed or become a duathlon for the first time in Olympic history because of pollution in the Seine river.
With barely 100 days until the [start of the Olympic Games on July 26](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/0/paris-olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-time-date-watch-seine/), a French water charity has warned about the [“alarming” state of the Seine](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/08/e-coli-polluted-river-seine-paris-olympics-macron-to-swim/) and the “risks faced by athletes moving in contaminated water”.
Tony Estanguet, the president of Paris 2024, admitted on Tuesday that E. coli was “one of the bigger challenges” facing the organisers and, while “very confident” that the water quality will sufficiently improve, disclosed that contingencies were in place.
[Great Britain has major gold medal hopes](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/0/team-gb-paris-olympics-2024-who-british-athletes-uk/) in all three triathlon events – the men’s, women’s and mixed relay – but athletes who have spent four years peaking for a specific date have been warned that their races could be moved at short notice.
And, if the water quality remained below the required levels throughout the Games, the event would simply be held without the swimming component and become a run-bike-run duathlon.
“In sport, there’s a risk – there’s always a risk,” said Estanguet, who stressed that there was “only one location” and no question of finding a back-up venue.
Estanguet, who is himself a triple Olympic champion in canoeing, said that uncertainty was part of open water sport and pointed out that the triathlon test events took place last summer in the Seine, which were respectively won by Great Britain’s Alex Yee and Beth Potter.
**Read more:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/triathlon/2024/04/09/olympics-paris-2024-river-seine-ecoli-pollution-duathlon/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/triathlon/2024/04/09/olympics-paris-2024-river-seine-ecoli-pollution-duathlon/)
That’s ridiculous
Is there anywhere else in the region it could be moved to, instead?
Oh wow. Such a fiasco. Who would have expected that from the French?
Get your shit together Paris