The Olympic triathlon postponement has been branded as ‘disrespectful’ by athletes complaining of being ‘puppets in a puppet show’.
Games organisers stated the event would be ‘rescheduled for health reasons’ just hours before it was meant to start.
This was due to pollution levels in the River Seine being too high for participants to swim safely in following heavy rain fall on Friday.
There had been fears the event would have to scrap the swimming altogether and therefore be changed to a duathlon.
But organisers have spent £1billion improving the water quality ready for this summer.
But now, the men’s races have been pushed back and will take place on Wednesday at 10am, following the women’s event that starts at 8am.
Triathlon athletes have been left furious by the disruption, including Belgian Marten Van Riel, who is a big medal contender in the event.
He said: “If the priority was the health of the athletes, this event would have been moved to another location a long time ago. We are just puppets in a puppet show.
“Duathlon is no triathlon and changing the day like that in the middle of the night is disrespectful to the years of preparation of the athletes and to all the fans that were going to watch live or on TV.
“What an appearance for triathlon on the biggest scene!”
The possibility of the event being changed to a duathlon is still looming over the athletes’ heads.
It would be an Olympic first if this happens, given there has never been a duathlon at the Games.
The Olympics statement read: “Considering the latest weather information, it has been decided to schedule the men’s triathlon event on 31 July at 10:45am.
“The women’s triathlon is due to take place the same day at 8am.
“Both triathlons are subject to the forthcoming water tests complying with the established World Triathlon thresholds for swimming. The original contingency day also remains in place for August 2, for further considerations.
“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes. The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held.
“Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control, such as the rain which fell over Paris on July 26 and 27, can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons.
“Despite the improvement on the water quality levels in the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits.”
News Summary:
- Olympic triathlete blasts Paris 2024 chaos as dangerous River Seine pollution could see event changed
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