02:45Mandatory credit: IOC - News use only - Content may only be used for up to 30 days after live broadcast
Speaking in Paris on Monday, Martin Fourcade, member of the International Olympics Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Commission, said that he hopes organisers' would have stopped' last week's delayed triathlon race if contamination levels in the River Seine were too high.
This comes after Team Belgium announced it would be withdrawing from the Paris 2024 mixed triathlon relay after one of its athletes, Claire Michel, fell sick after swimming in the river during the initial triathlon races last week.
"First of all, I want the athletes to be healthy again; that's my first reaction, and of course, we are looking at it from very close by with the Paris 2024 Commission," Fourcade said at a daily IOC press briefing.
"I have been an athlete myself, and I believe our role here is to protect the athletes because they are the ones who really want to dive, but we are there to make sure that it can be done in proper conditions of public health," he continued.
In a statement released on Sunday, Team Belgium did not specify Michel's illness but appeared to take aim at the IOC for allowing Wednesday's women's triathlon event to go ahead.
"The COIB and Belgian Triathlon hope that lessons will be learned for future triathlon competitions at the Olympic Games, such as guaranteeing training days, competition days and the competition format, which must be clarified in advance and ensure that there is no uncertainty for the athletes and support personnel," the statement read.
Meanwhile, Team Switzerland announced that its swimmer, Adrien Briffod, who also competed in the Seine on Wednesday, has been replaced after contracting a gastrointestinal infection. However, it stated that it was 'impossible to say' if the illness was connected with water contamination in the river.
Last week, IOC spokesperson Anne Descamps confirmed that the water quality in the Seine had finally met 'world triathlon standards' for safe competition following days of delay and media backlash.
Training sessions for the triathlon were also cancelled following water quality reviews, which representatives from Paris 2024 and the International Triathlon Federation said did not provide a safe environment.
The River Seine was the focal point of Friday's opening ceremony, with athletes parading on boats despite heavy rain. Just two weeks ago, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, swam in the river as part of efforts to showcase the pollution clean-up, despite tests back then reporting that the water quality remained unsafe for humans during periods of heavy rain.
Swimming in the Seine has been banned for over 100 years due to the pollution, but the Paris Games invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the clean-up. It includes a giant underground water storage basin, sewer renovations and wastewater treatment upgrades. The Summer Games take place from July 26 to August 11.
'We really hope' triathlon events 'would have stopped' if Seine contamination too high - IOC Athletes' Commission spox
Speaking in Paris on Monday, Martin Fourcade, member of the International Olympics Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Commission, said that he hopes organisers' would have stopped' last week's delayed triathlon race if contamination levels in the River Seine were too high.
This comes after Team Belgium announced it would be withdrawing from the Paris 2024 mixed triathlon relay after one of its athletes, Claire Michel, fell sick after swimming in the river during the initial triathlon races last week.
"First of all, I want the athletes to be healthy again; that's my first reaction, and of course, we are looking at it from very close by with the Paris 2024 Commission," Fourcade said at a daily IOC press briefing.
"I have been an athlete myself, and I believe our role here is to protect the athletes because they are the ones who really want to dive, but we are there to make sure that it can be done in proper conditions of public health," he continued.
In a statement released on Sunday, Team Belgium did not specify Michel's illness but appeared to take aim at the IOC for allowing Wednesday's women's triathlon event to go ahead.
"The COIB and Belgian Triathlon hope that lessons will be learned for future triathlon competitions at the Olympic Games, such as guaranteeing training days, competition days and the competition format, which must be clarified in advance and ensure that there is no uncertainty for the athletes and support personnel," the statement read.
Meanwhile, Team Switzerland announced that its swimmer, Adrien Briffod, who also competed in the Seine on Wednesday, has been replaced after contracting a gastrointestinal infection. However, it stated that it was 'impossible to say' if the illness was connected with water contamination in the river.
Last week, IOC spokesperson Anne Descamps confirmed that the water quality in the Seine had finally met 'world triathlon standards' for safe competition following days of delay and media backlash.
Training sessions for the triathlon were also cancelled following water quality reviews, which representatives from Paris 2024 and the International Triathlon Federation said did not provide a safe environment.
The River Seine was the focal point of Friday's opening ceremony, with athletes parading on boats despite heavy rain. Just two weeks ago, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, swam in the river as part of efforts to showcase the pollution clean-up, despite tests back then reporting that the water quality remained unsafe for humans during periods of heavy rain.
Swimming in the Seine has been banned for over 100 years due to the pollution, but the Paris Games invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the clean-up. It includes a giant underground water storage basin, sewer renovations and wastewater treatment upgrades. The Summer Games take place from July 26 to August 11.
Mandatory credit: IOC - News use only - Content may only be used for up to 30 days after live broadcast
Speaking in Paris on Monday, Martin Fourcade, member of the International Olympics Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Commission, said that he hopes organisers' would have stopped' last week's delayed triathlon race if contamination levels in the River Seine were too high.
This comes after Team Belgium announced it would be withdrawing from the Paris 2024 mixed triathlon relay after one of its athletes, Claire Michel, fell sick after swimming in the river during the initial triathlon races last week.
"First of all, I want the athletes to be healthy again; that's my first reaction, and of course, we are looking at it from very close by with the Paris 2024 Commission," Fourcade said at a daily IOC press briefing.
"I have been an athlete myself, and I believe our role here is to protect the athletes because they are the ones who really want to dive, but we are there to make sure that it can be done in proper conditions of public health," he continued.
In a statement released on Sunday, Team Belgium did not specify Michel's illness but appeared to take aim at the IOC for allowing Wednesday's women's triathlon event to go ahead.
"The COIB and Belgian Triathlon hope that lessons will be learned for future triathlon competitions at the Olympic Games, such as guaranteeing training days, competition days and the competition format, which must be clarified in advance and ensure that there is no uncertainty for the athletes and support personnel," the statement read.
Meanwhile, Team Switzerland announced that its swimmer, Adrien Briffod, who also competed in the Seine on Wednesday, has been replaced after contracting a gastrointestinal infection. However, it stated that it was 'impossible to say' if the illness was connected with water contamination in the river.
Last week, IOC spokesperson Anne Descamps confirmed that the water quality in the Seine had finally met 'world triathlon standards' for safe competition following days of delay and media backlash.
Training sessions for the triathlon were also cancelled following water quality reviews, which representatives from Paris 2024 and the International Triathlon Federation said did not provide a safe environment.
The River Seine was the focal point of Friday's opening ceremony, with athletes parading on boats despite heavy rain. Just two weeks ago, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, swam in the river as part of efforts to showcase the pollution clean-up, despite tests back then reporting that the water quality remained unsafe for humans during periods of heavy rain.
Swimming in the Seine has been banned for over 100 years due to the pollution, but the Paris Games invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the clean-up. It includes a giant underground water storage basin, sewer renovations and wastewater treatment upgrades. The Summer Games take place from July 26 to August 11.