Major Paris Olympics event POSTPONED just hours before event and fears it could be scrapped In huge blow to Team GB

PARIS Olympics organisers have decided to POSTPONE the men’s Olympic triathlon just hours before the event was due to start.

The men’s triathlon was hit by chaos after the swimming practice event was cancelled two days in a row after the river Seine failed water quality inspections.

ReutersThe men’s triathlon has been postponed[/caption]

ReutersSwimming practice sessions were cancelled two days running[/caption]

It was hoped the river, which endured heavy rain – drenching the opening ceremony – at the end of last week, would return to safe enough levels to compete today.

However, this is not the case, and following a crunch meeting held at 3.30am World Triathlon announced the event would be postponed from its original 8am slot this morning.

A statement from World Triathlon said: “Following a meeting on water quality held on 30 July at 3.30am attended by Paris 2024, representatives of World Triathlon and their Technical and Medical Delegates, the International Olympic Committee, Météo France, the City of Paris and the Prefecture of the Île-de-France Region involved in carrying out water quality tests, decision has been made to postpone the men’s triathlon event which was due to be held on 30 July at 8am.”

The announcement revealed the event had been rescheduled for 10.45am on July 31, while the women’s event would, subject to water quality tests, still take place at the original time of 8am tomorrow.

The latest weather report indicates rain will hit the river again later this week, with organisers hoping that pencilling in the event tomorrow will allow them to dodge further cancellations.

Team GB athletes, Alex Yee and Beth Potter, are among the medal favourites in the men’s and women’s events respectively.

But they now face an anxious wait to see whether water quality levels improve enough to allow the event to go ahead.

World Triathlon’s statement continued: “Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes.

“The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held…

“There will be a meeting at 8am between World Triathlon and the coaches to provide further information and the updated schedule for July 31.”

More to follow.

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