Illustration of the Seine in Paris on June 4, 2024. Photo: AFP
New Zealand Olympic chef de mission Nigel Avery remains hopeful that the River Seine in Paris will be clean enough for the triathlon competition.
The swimming leg of the triathlon could be cancelled if heavy rain affects water quality in the river.
Earlier this year testing by charity Surfrider Foundation Europe revealed "alarming" levels of E coli in the river.
In April Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet said contingency plans were in place, including delaying the event until later in the Games.
Avery remains optimistic that the water quality will be satisfactory.
"I hope so," Avery told Morning Report.
"We were touring around with a guy who use to be in the French triathlon team and I asked him about the water quality and he replied: 'we have swum in worse'.
"I don't think the IOC is going to allow them to be in water that is going to be unsanitary, so fingers crossed."
The New Zealand triathlon team for the Olympics is yet to be named but should be led by Hayden Wilde who won the bronze medal in Tokyo.
The Olympics start on 26 July, with the men's and women's triathlon scheduled for 30 and 31 July respectively and the mixed event on 5 August.
The Seine is also set to host marathon swimming at the Olympics and the Para-triathlon event at the Paralympics, which start on 28 August.
Organisers have spent $2.5 billion on a regeneration project to make the Seine safe to swim in, including a rainwater storage basin to try and reduce the risks of pollution.
The water will be tested every day during the Olympics to ensure it is safe.
-RNZ/BBC
