Poor water quality in the River Seine on Monday led to the cancellation of swimming training for the competitors in the Olympic triathlon in Paris for the second successive day.

Athletes of Team France cruise during the athletes' parade on the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris, France on July 26, 2024. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/Pool via Xinhua)

The news comes after Sunday's session also had to be cancelled after a drop in water quality following the heavy rain in the French capital on Friday and Saturday.

The rain is thought to have washed untreated sewage into the river, which had previously seen improved cleanliness after a spell of dry weather.

Paris 2024 organizers and World Triathlon issued a statement on Monday, saying the water quality was still below an acceptable level and that organizers wanted to "reiterate that the priority is the health of the athletes."

Sunday's communique explained that "tests revealed water quality levels that in the view of the international federation, World Triathlon, did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held."

The news comes just a day before the men's triathlon is scheduled to be held and there is a very real chance the event may have to be postponed, with August 1st and 2nd penciled into the program in case this happens. 

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