Controversies continue to mar the Paris Olympics 2024, as the swim training session was cancelled for the second straight day due to poor water quality in the Seine.
The concerns over the river's cleanliness have cast a shadow on the games, following the cancellation of the pre-race triathlon event for the same reason.
Just two weeks ago, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a high-profile swim in the Seine to demonstrate that the historically polluted waterway was safe for swimming competitions. However, heavy rain during the opening ceremony reignited worries about the river's suitability for such events.
On Monday, World Triathlon cancelled the swim workout after tests showed water quality levels were insufficient to ensure athlete safety.
For over a century, swimming in the Seine was banned due to poor water quality. To prepare for the Olympics, organizers invested $1.5 billion to clean the river, promising it would be safe for events like the triathlon and marathon swimming. Despite these efforts, recent weather has caused setbacks, raising questions and fueling controversies.
The Paris Olympics have also faced backlash over a controversial portrayal of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." The organizers issued a public apology after the French Catholic Bishops' Conference criticized the depiction, stating it ridiculed Christianity.
Social media influencer Andrew Tate also protested, calling the parody disrespectful to the religion.
In response to the outcry, the spokeswoman for Paris 2024 expressed regret, saying, "If people have taken any offence, we are, of course, really sorry."
Despite the best efforts of the organisers, controversies at Paris 2024 it seems, first with the cultural insensitivity and now with River Seine's water quality, are refusing to die down.