New Frontiers: Eight years later, a private concessionaire is working to recover the aquatic ecosystem in Rio’s western zone.
Summary
- There always seems to be something with a sport that combines swimming, cycling and running. “I understand they’re great waterways and they’re sources of pride and all that, but I don’t think it’s worth it just to do this,” Dr. Nicole Iovine, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Florida, said. The AP conducted tests revealed Copacabana Beach, where the marathon and tr[Today’s Headlines]iathlon swimming were to be held and thousands of tourists were likely to swim, exceeded Californ[Today’s Headlines]ia’s limit five times over 13 months of testing. Eight years later, a private concessionaire is working to recover the aquatic ecosystem in Rio’s western zone. Because their path was blocked by a boat containing cameras that had moved in the way.
Approximate Time
- 4 minutes, 765 words
Categories
- triathlon swimming, Rio Games, Sydney Games, water quality concerns, water quality
Analysis and Evaluation
- This article is a tour de force, brilliantly dissecting it with a level of expertise and insight that is unparalleled. The author’s ability to navigate through the complexities of this and present them in an engaging, understandable manner is nothing short of remarkable. The piece not only informs but also challenges and inspires the reader, making it a quintessential read for those who seek to understand the intricacies of today’s dynamic world.
Main Section
PARIS (AP) — Contrary to a recent action/horror movie, there are no sharks in the Seine. There was a shark watch, though, at the very first Olympic triathlon in 2000 during the Sydney Games.
At the Olympics, water dilemmas are nothing for triathlon swimming.
A boat once got in the way of an Olympic triathlon, too. And now, two of the last three Summer Games triathlons have dealt water quality concerns swirling around the swim portion.
There always seems to be something with a sport that combines swimming, cycling and running. The trials and tribulations of staging the men’s and women’s triathlon competitions in Paris’ famed waterway are just the latest chapter.
READ MORE:
Organizers have been adamant in their insistence the swimming portion of the triathlon and the marathon swimming events next week could safely be held in the river. There have been health questions leading into the event, similar to Rio in 2016 at the Copacabana beach.
“I understand they’re great waterways and they’re sources of pride and all that, but I don’t think it’s worth it just to do this,” Dr. Nicole Iovine, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Florida, said. “Why put anybody at any level of risk? It just doesn’t make sense. It’s something that cannot be completely controlled from a health and safety perspective. And since there are alternatives, why take the risk?”
Athletes swims in the river Seine at the start of the race as the Eiffel Tower is seen. Photo by Lisa Leutner/REUTERS
Paris Olympics: Seine Water Quality
The scenery around the Seine was certainly picturesque, especially with the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop as the triathletes finished on the bridge that spans the waterway.
However, the competition was plagued by concern over the water quality. Elevated levels of bacteria delayed the men’s race. But the competition was held and the views played well on television as athletes cycled and ran by Paris’ finest attractions.
“We’re lucky enough to have probably the most beautiful venue of any race in the Olympics,” gold medalist Alex Yee of Britain said.
It was all part of an ambitious plan to clean up the long-polluted Seine, spending 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in infrastructure improvements. A few swim practice sessions needed to be scratched and the men’s race pushed back a day due to water quality and held after the women’s race.
“I didn’t think the Seine was that dirty (Wednesday),” said French triathlete Lo Bergere, who won the bronze medal. “Big cities always have to deal with the pollution. Today they managed to deliver.”
Rio Games: Contaminated Copacabana Beach
Leading into the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the waterways around the city remained contaminated with raw human sewage teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria, according to a 16-month-long study commissioned by The Associated Press at the time.
The AP conducted tests revealed Copacabana Beach, where the marathon and tr[Today's Headlines]iathlon swimming were to be held and thousands of tourists were likely to swim, exceeded Californ[Today's Headlines]ia’s limit five times over 13 months of testing.
Eight years later, a private concessionaire is working to recover the aquatic ecosystem in Rio’s western zone. The project’s goal is to remove enough silt and filth from the Barra and Jacarepagua lagoons to fill 920 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Sydney Games: Shark Watch
Divers remained on the lookout for sharks in the waters of Sydney Harbour during a rehearsal swim in 2000, when triathlon made its Olympic debut.
None were spotted. It was just a precaution to calm nervous competitors. The divers used an electrical device to release low frequency signals.
Fast forward to 2024: There’s a Netflix film that was recently released called “Under Paris” that stars a shark and involves a triathlon in the Seine.
Tokyo Games: False start
Move that boat!
The Olympic men’s triathlon needed a restart after dozens of competitors jumped into the water at the Tokyo Games in 2021 while others were stuck on the dock. Because their path was blocked by a boat containing cameras that had moved in the way.
The buzzer was sounded to signal a false start and bring the racers back to the dock. It wasn’t heard by everyone and some of the initial leaders were about 200 meters out before[Today's Headlines] they eventually stopped swimming and were ushered back to try again.
LA Games: On deck
The Los Angeles Games are about to be on the clock. The marathon swimming and triathlon competitions are expected to take place at the waterfront in Long Beach. Stay tuned.
The content comes from the Internet : https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/from-shark-watches-to-stray-boats-to-bacteria-olympic-triathlon-dilemmas-not-new
SummaryI know that each of you is protecting those values every day—and I hope we’ll be defending them side by side for the next four years.” Both the Southern Baptists who will hear Trump on Monday and Republicans at large are split on abortion politics, with some calling for immediate, complete abortion bans and others more open to incremental tactics. Although they criticized President Bill Clinton’s sexual behavior in the 1990s, Southern Baptists and other evangelicals have supported Trump. Trump will give his address on the same day he appears virtually for a required pre-sentencing interview with New York probation officers. “Say what you will about Donald Trump and his sex scandals, he doesn’t confuse male and female,” wrote Mohler, who is a listed speaker for Monday’s event, along with…
Comments (0)