The Olympic mixed relay triathlon will go ahead as planned in the Seine Monday morning, despite previous concerns over the river's water quality.
Organisers late Sunday confirmed that the mixed relay triathlon competition will be held as scheduled at 8am Monday, after reviewing tests of the water quality of the River Seine.
The World Triathlon and the Paris Games Organising Committee said in a joint statement that water tests at 7pm Sunday night indicated that it was safe to “move ahead” with the competition.
“The latest test results confirm that Seine water quality levels at the triathlon venue have improved in recent hours, with forward looking analysis indicating that water quality will be within the levels acceptable by World Triathlon,” they said.
Training sessions in the river were cancelled Sunday because of pollution, and the men's individual race last week had to be delayed by 24 hours.
Belgian triathlete ill
Belgium, will not take part in the relay, after one of their athletes, Claire Michel, fell ill.
The Belgian Olympic Committee clarified that the athlete who finished 38th in the triathlon, was in her room at the Olympic Village and had not been in hospital for four days, as some media reported.
"It is correct that she was taken to the polyclinic in the Olympic Village earlier today for treatment,” the Committee said.
"The COIB and Belgian Triathlon hope that lessons will be learned for future triathlon competitions at the Olympic Games.”
France to challenge champions
The 17 teams of four –two men and two women – will complete a 300-metre swim, a seven-kilometre (4.3-mile) bike ride and a 1.8km run.
France's Cassandre Beaugrand, who won gold in the individual triathlon on Wednesday, will dive into the Seine again with three team mates, including Leo Bergere, who won bronze in the men’s race.
They will try to take the crown defending champions Britain, whose gold medallist Alex Yee competes with bronze medallist Beth Potter.
(with newswires)
