DEKYAS NEWS World Breaking News and Trusted Source
Related Articles
A number of Olympic triathletes who swam in the River Seine fell ill and were forced to withdraw from the competition this week due to concerns about the river’s water quality, a long-standing problem that organizers of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are grappling with.
Team Belgium has withdrawn from Monday’s mixed relay triathlon after one of the athletes, who competed in last week’s women’s individual triathlon, fell ill.
Meanwhile, Switzerland had to revise its legislation own mixed relay line-up not once but twice due to gastrointestinal infections that affected two of its athletes – one of them had participated in the men’s individual triathlon event in the Seine on July 31.
The Associated Press also reported that a female triathlete from Sweden and a male triathlete from Norway fell ill after competing in their individual event in the Seine last week.
It is not yet clear whether the illnesses are the result of the water quality of the Seine, a constant concern in the run-up to and during the Games.
In an emailed statement to Global News on Tuesday, a Paris 2024 spokesperson said that “the health and well-being of athletes is our top priority.”
“As for the competitions held in the Seine, water quality tests are carried out daily and the decision on whether an event goes ahead is taken by the International Federation, World Triathlon, in coordination with Paris 2024, and on the basis of the test results and a series of criteria (particularly health criteria),” the spokesperson said.
Due to the bacteria concentrations, organizers had to postpone the men’s triathlon last week by one day.
After days of uncertainty, more than 100 triathletes took to the waters of the Seine last week to take part in the men’s and women’s individual races.
On Tuesday, a trial run that was to give Olympic athletes a chance to familiarize themselves with the marathon swimming course in the Seine was canceled due to concerns about water quality.
The latest health and medical news, delivered to your inbox every Sunday.
Receive weekly health news
Receive the latest medical news and health information every Sunday.
The cancellation of Tuesday’s swimming marathon test event comes a day after the mixed triathlon relay event was held in the river that flows through the centre of the French capital.
World Triathlon released data on Tuesday showing that when the triathletes competed in the mixed relay on Monday, levels of the fecal bacteria E. coli and enterococci were within acceptable levels for the length of the triathlon relay course.
Athletes jump into the water to take part in the swimming competition in the River Seine, during the mixed relay triathlon at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on Monday.
Martin Bureau/Pool Photo via AP
Why are triathletes getting sick in Paris?
At least four triathletes have been reported sick in recent days after their swim in the Seine last week.
The Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC) said in a statement on Sunday that triathlete Claire Michel “was unfortunately ill and had to withdraw from the (mixed relay) event.” Michel had competed in the women’s individual event on July 31.
“The BOIC and Belgian Triathlon hope that lessons will be learned for the next triathlon competitions at the Olympic Games,” the committee said.
Swiss officials announced Saturday that triathlete Adrien Briffod, who also competed in the Seine on Wednesday, will not compete on Monday after getting sick from a stomach infectionOn Sunday it was announced that Simon Westermann, who had been brought in to replace Briffod, had also had to withdraw due to a gastrointestinal infection. Westermann had not yet taken part in any swimming trips in the Seine.
Vetle Bergsvik Thorn of Norway, who competed on Monday, also became ill in recent days. He said he had a bad stomach for about 12 hours, but said “it’s hard to say if it’s the river or just regular food poisoning.”
“It’s been quite a stressful few days, not knowing if we could swim or not,” he said.
Swedish triathlete Tilda Månsson fell ill on Saturday, three days after competing in the women’s triathlon, Swedish Olympic Committee spokesman Lars Markusson said. While the cause of her illness was unclear, Markusson told Swedish broadcaster SVT that “since others have also become ill, you may not have to be a doctor to conclude that it was related to swimming in the Seine.”
Global News is awaiting a response from the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) regarding any concerns or illnesses affecting their triathletes.
Two more Olympic events are scheduled to take place in the Seine: the women’s marathon swimming competition on Thursday and the men’s marathon swimming competition on Friday.
Before the start of the Summer Games, experts warned of the potential health risks for athletes of swimming in polluted water.
In an earlier interview with Global News, Ted Steiner, an infectious disease physician at Vancouver General Hospital, said that while waterborne E. coli infection can occur in some cases, it is generally not the biggest concern.
E. coli is a marker that indicates there may be other parasites, bacteria or viruses present that may be more infectious, Steiner said last month.
“The concern for swimmers is that as they breathe they could certainly get some water in their mouth and swallow enough to potentially get a dose large enough to get sick,” he said.
Bacteria associated with fecal contamination can lead to gastrointestinal infections, causing stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea. There is also a risk of ear and respiratory infections, said Marc Habash, an associate professor in the University of Guelph’s faculty of environmental sciences.
— with files from The Associated Press.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Saba Aziz
Source link
