World Aquatics Championships: Sentosa open water swimming hit by more delays

SINGAPORE: The World Aquatics Championships open water events have been hit by further postponements due to water quality issues remaining unacceptable, said World Aquatics on Tuesday (Jul 15).

In a statement, World Aquatics said that while water quality results have "improved", further tests have shown that levels still exceed "acceptable thresholds".

This meant that the men's 10km race and the women's 10km race, which were scheduled for 7.30am and 10.15am on Wednesday, were postponed to 1pm and 4pm respectively, subject to acceptable test results for samples collected on Tuesday evening.

On Tuesday, the women’s 10km race at Sentosa was postponed just hours before it was set to begin, with organisers saying that the water quality levels did not meet "acceptable thresholds"as a result of an analysis of samples taken last Sunday.

The race, originally slated for 8am on Tuesday, was moved to 10.15am on Wednesday. The men's race was originally scheduled for 7.30am on Wednesday.

World Aquatics executive director Brent Nowicki said later on Tuesday afternoon that elevated levels of the E. coli bacteria were responsible for the race postponement. He added that the source of the contamination had yet to be determined.

E. coli are bacteria typically found in the intestines of humans and animals. Common symptoms of ingesting a pathogenic strain of E. coli include vomiting and diarrhoea.

Mr Nowicki said World Aquatics adheres to “acceptable limits” set by the World Health Organization and that tests are outsourced to “outside testing agencies” to ensure rigour and independence.

Tests conducted in the weeks and months leading up to the event had shown results within "acceptable limits", he added.

Sentosa is the venue for the high diving and