Paris Olympics 2024 athletes 'very disappointed' as men's triathlon postponed for worrying reason

Athletes are said to be 'very unhappy' after the men’s triathlon at the Paris Olympics was dramatically postponed because of concerns over water quality in the River Seine.

Swimming training for the triathletes was cancelled on Sunday and Monday and the decision has been taken to move the men’s race, which had been due to start at 8am local time on Tuesday, to Wednesday.

It has been rescheduled to take place at 10.45am local time, after the women’s race which is scheduled to take place at 8am. A statement from World Triathlon said Friday remains a contingency day if one or both of the races are unable to go ahead.

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“Tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held,” read the statement. read.

“Despite the improvement in the water quality levels, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits."

More than a billion euros was spent on cleaning up the river in preparation for the Games, but organisers knew heavy rain in the days before a competition could cause the levels of the harmful bacteria E. Coli to rise.

There was hope the effects of the deluge that marred Friday’s opening ceremony would have passed in time but that has not been the case. Britain’s Alex Yee is one of the favourites for gold in the men’s race while Beth Potter is the reigning women’s world champion.

The Times reported that if e-coli levels in the river didn't improve the swimming element of the competition would be dropped it would become a duathlon.

BBC Triathlon commentator Ammie Emmerson told the broadcaster "A lot of very unhappy athletes, very disappointed