٠٠:٠٢:٥٥Mandatory credit: IOC/ News use only/ Restrix: Content may only be used for up to 30 days following live broadcast
Olympic Games spokesperson Anne Descamps confirmed that the water quality in the Seine had finally met 'world triathlon standards' for safe competition, speaking at a joint press conference with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris on Wednesday.
"The latest water samples that we reviewed this morning... are between the 488 and 770, which is well within the world triathlon standards for safe competition," she stated. Descamps added that the decision to allow the competition was based on these tests, with further tests planned for later in the day.
The men's triathlon, initially scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed to Wednesday - after the women's event - when earlier tests found the water did not meet safety standards. Both went ahead later on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Paris Games Executive Director of Sports Aurelie Merle said she was 'hopeful' the Olympic triathlon could go ahead as she faced a media backlash.
"If the water isn't safe today, how can it be safe tomorrow?" she was asked by reporters.
"We know that the sun and the heat have a very strong impact on the quality of the water, and that's why we feel because we're so close this morning that we can hopefully believe that tomorrow morning the water quality will be better," she replied.
Training sessions were also cancelled for the triathlon on Sunday and Monday following reviews of the water quality.
The River Seine was the focal point of Friday's opening ceremony, with athletes parading on boats despite heavy rain. Just two weeks ago, 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, renovations to the sewers and upgrades to wastewater treatment.
Meanwhile, the issue of wearing hijabs during the competition was addressed at the press briefing. France has a ban on its own sports team wearing them - in line with similar domestic rules - although Masomah Ali Zada, an Afghan cyclist from the Refugee Olympic Team, expressed her hope that "the IOC didn't have any problem" with athletes wearing them. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams confirmed that athletes are "free to wear hijab, veil or headscarf" in the Olympic village and venues, provided that International Federation rules allow it for safety reasons.
Earlier, French authorities announced a ban on hijabs and headscarves for its athletes in certain sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, and boxing, although it did not apply to athletes from other countries. International organisations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International urged the IOC to condemn the ban, but the IOC stated it was "outside the remit of the Olympic movement."
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, running from 26 July to 11 August, will feature 329 events across 32 sports, followed by the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September.
'Well within world standards' - IOC confirms Seine water quality finally acceptable for postponed triathlon
Olympic Games spokesperson Anne Descamps confirmed that the water quality in the Seine had finally met 'world triathlon standards' for safe competition, speaking at a joint press conference with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris on Wednesday.
"The latest water samples that we reviewed this morning... are between the 488 and 770, which is well within the world triathlon standards for safe competition," she stated. Descamps added that the decision to allow the competition was based on these tests, with further tests planned for later in the day.
The men's triathlon, initially scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed to Wednesday - after the women's event - when earlier tests found the water did not meet safety standards. Both went ahead later on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Paris Games Executive Director of Sports Aurelie Merle said she was 'hopeful' the Olympic triathlon could go ahead as she faced a media backlash.
"If the water isn't safe today, how can it be safe tomorrow?" she was asked by reporters.
"We know that the sun and the heat have a very strong impact on the quality of the water, and that's why we feel because we're so close this morning that we can hopefully believe that tomorrow morning the water quality will be better," she replied.
Training sessions were also cancelled for the triathlon on Sunday and Monday following reviews of the water quality.
The River Seine was the focal point of Friday's opening ceremony, with athletes parading on boats despite heavy rain. Just two weeks ago, 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, renovations to the sewers and upgrades to wastewater treatment.
Meanwhile, the issue of wearing hijabs during the competition was addressed at the press briefing. France has a ban on its own sports team wearing them - in line with similar domestic rules - although Masomah Ali Zada, an Afghan cyclist from the Refugee Olympic Team, expressed her hope that "the IOC didn't have any problem" with athletes wearing them. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams confirmed that athletes are "free to wear hijab, veil or headscarf" in the Olympic village and venues, provided that International Federation rules allow it for safety reasons.
Earlier, French authorities announced a ban on hijabs and headscarves for its athletes in certain sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, and boxing, although it did not apply to athletes from other countries. International organisations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International urged the IOC to condemn the ban, but the IOC stated it was "outside the remit of the Olympic movement."
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, running from 26 July to 11 August, will feature 329 events across 32 sports, followed by the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September.
Mandatory credit: IOC/ News use only/ Restrix: Content may only be used for up to 30 days following live broadcast
Olympic Games spokesperson Anne Descamps confirmed that the water quality in the Seine had finally met 'world triathlon standards' for safe competition, speaking at a joint press conference with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris on Wednesday.
"The latest water samples that we reviewed this morning... are between the 488 and 770, which is well within the world triathlon standards for safe competition," she stated. Descamps added that the decision to allow the competition was based on these tests, with further tests planned for later in the day.
The men's triathlon, initially scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed to Wednesday - after the women's event - when earlier tests found the water did not meet safety standards. Both went ahead later on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Paris Games Executive Director of Sports Aurelie Merle said she was 'hopeful' the Olympic triathlon could go ahead as she faced a media backlash.
"If the water isn't safe today, how can it be safe tomorrow?" she was asked by reporters.
"We know that the sun and the heat have a very strong impact on the quality of the water, and that's why we feel because we're so close this morning that we can hopefully believe that tomorrow morning the water quality will be better," she replied.
Training sessions were also cancelled for the triathlon on Sunday and Monday following reviews of the water quality.
The River Seine was the focal point of Friday's opening ceremony, with athletes parading on boats despite heavy rain. Just two weeks ago, 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, renovations to the sewers and upgrades to wastewater treatment.
Meanwhile, the issue of wearing hijabs during the competition was addressed at the press briefing. France has a ban on its own sports team wearing them - in line with similar domestic rules - although Masomah Ali Zada, an Afghan cyclist from the Refugee Olympic Team, expressed her hope that "the IOC didn't have any problem" with athletes wearing them. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams confirmed that athletes are "free to wear hijab, veil or headscarf" in the Olympic village and venues, provided that International Federation rules allow it for safety reasons.
Earlier, French authorities announced a ban on hijabs and headscarves for its athletes in certain sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, and boxing, although it did not apply to athletes from other countries. International organisations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International urged the IOC to condemn the ban, but the IOC stated it was "outside the remit of the Olympic movement."
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, running from 26 July to 11 August, will feature 329 events across 32 sports, followed by the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September.