In a major setback for the Paris Olympics, the men’s triathlon race has been postponed following fears over the poor water quality in the Seine River.

The triathletes were forced to cancel their swimming training sessions on Sunday and Monday, leading to the decision to reschedule the men’s race from Tuesday to Wednesday.

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Originally slated for an 8 a.m. start on Tuesday, the men’s triathlon will now kick off at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, following the women’s race, which is scheduled for 8 a.m.

The organizers have marked Friday as a contingency day in case any of the races are unable to proceed.

Concerns regarding water quality were articulated in a statement released by World Triathlon, which stated, “Tests conducted in the Seine today confirmed that the water quality does not meet the necessary standards required for the event to take place. Despite improvements, some areas along the swim course still have water quality readings that surpass acceptable limits.”

The organizers did entertain the possibility of converting the event into a duathlon to circumvent the swimming aspect. However, more than €1 billion had been invested in cleaning up the river ahead of the Games, making it a critical component of the triathlon.

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The heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the competition exacerbated the levels of the harmful bacteria E. Coli, posing a legitimate risk. While the hope remained that the effects of the deluge would subside in time for the event, it appears that this was wishful thinking.

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Swimming in the Seine has been prohibited since 1923 due to its poor water quality. Former Paris mayor Jacques Chirac famously vowed to rejuvenate the river’s cleanliness for public use, but his efforts fell short.

However, current mayor Anne Hidalgo attempted to demonstrate progress earlier this month by participating in a swim of approximately 100 meters, alongside around 100 officials.

Unfortunately, the heavy rainfall during the opening ceremony hampered water quality levels, raising concerns about pollution and, in particular, the presence of E. Coli.