What's happened
British triathletes are preparing for the Paris Olympics by consuming probiotics and avoiding contaminated water in the River Seine. Concerns over E Coli levels in the river could potentially delay or cancel the triathlon event, as admitted by Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet.
Why it matters
The water quality concerns in the River Seine pose a significant threat to the Paris Olympics triathlon event, potentially impacting the competition and the health of athletes. The proactive measures taken by British triathletes highlight the seriousness of the issue and the challenges faced by organizers in ensuring a safe and successful event.
What the papers say
The Guardian reports on British triathletes' preparations and the use of probiotics to combat pollution in the Seine. Sky News and The Independent highlight the potential risks of poor water quality in the River Seine and the concerns raised by the Surfrider Foundation Europe charity regarding dangerous bacteria levels.
How we got here
Despite significant investments to improve water quality in the River Seine, concerns over E Coli contamination persist, posing a threat to the Paris Olympics triathlon event. The Surfrider Foundation Europe charity has warned of dangerous bacteria levels in the river, prompting discussions about potential delays or cancellations of the competition.
Common question
More on these topics
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The Seine is a 777-kilometre-long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Source-Seine, 30 kilometres northwest of Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and
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Tony Estanguet OLY is a French slalom canoeist and a three-time Olympic champion in C1. He competed at the international level from 1994 to 2012.
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Paris is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,150,271 residents as of 2020, in an area of 105 square kilometres.
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The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions.
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The Surfrider Foundation USA is a U.S. 501 grassroots non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves and beaches.
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.