Olympics Triathlon Swim Practice Canceled for Second Day Due to Pollution in River Seine

The Olympic triathlon swimming practice has been canceled for the second day in a row over poor water quality in the River Seine.

In a July 29 press release obtained by PEOPLE, Paris 2024 officials confirmed that the swim leg of the triathlon familiarization, which was due to be held at 8 a.m. local time, had been canceled "following a meeting on water quality."

"Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterates that the priority is the health of the athletes," the release read in part. "The tests carried out in the Seine yesterday revealed water quality levels that in the view of the international federation, World Triathlon, did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held. This is due to rain that has fallen on Paris on 26 and 27 July and the impact it had on the Seine river."

Organizers added that they are optimistic that participants will be able to swim in the Seine once the competition starts later this week. The men's triathlon is due to start on Tuesday, July 30, while the women's competition will begin on Wednesday, July 31.

"Given the weather forecast for the next 36 hours, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon are confident that water quality will return to below limits before the start of the triathlon competitions on July 30," the release continued. As observed in July, with summer conditions (more sunshine, higher temperatures, prolonged absence of rain) water quality in the Seine has improved significantly."

Practice was also canceled on Sunday, July 28, officials announced in a statement.

“We are confident we’re going to be able to hold the competition tomorrow and Wednesday and we still have a contingency plan that is in place for Friday just in case,” Paris 2024 chief executive Etienne Thobois said at the daily International Olympic Committee on Monday, July 29, per CNN.

“As you could see there’s been quite a lot of rain in the last couple of days but we are monitoring very closely,” Thobois continued, adding there was improvement in the forecast.

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The cancelations come after Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony saw heavy rain, which continued into Saturday.

“We’ve seen what were the dynamics of the Seine over the past few weeks, and that’s what makes us confident,” Paris Deputy Mayor Antoine Guillou said at a news conference Sunday, per ABC News.

He added that within 24 to 48 hours, the water quality returned to safe levels.

“We are still very confident with the weather forecast for the next 48 hours, the water quality will improve,” Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps added. "Thanks to all the work that has been undertaken by our public stakeholders, we saw the water quality of the River Seine has improved significantly.”

PEOPLE reported earlier this month that Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the River Seine ahead of the Olympic Games to prove that the water quality was safe.

According to NBC News, Hidalgo’s swim, which saw her swim around 300 ft., came after she led a €1.4 billion plan to clean up the river ahead of the opening ceremony last week.

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