There’re political reasons, why the event is called Paris Summer Olympic Games and not French Summer Olympic Games. Paris has no interest in moving races to Nice. What I can’t understand is why we’re not hearing about any plan B to choose any nearby lake and do T1 there, while still doing 2nd part of the bike, T2 and run where currently planned.
In 2028 you’ll have LA Summer Olympic Games, and probably while organising a race in Santa Barbara will still be fine, nobody would go to Las Vegas.
This has to be one of the dumbest decisions and debates in recent Olympics history. France has an amazing, world class venue for a triathlon. Nice! They already have venues spread all over the country, nee the world, including Nice. Why they insist on forcing the swim in a polluted river is a face palm. Just move the event to Nice, and do the world a favor.
haha…vacation to Nice to watch grand finale of the Tour de France one weekend and Olympic Tri next weekend !!! Max riding in the mountains and swimming in the ocean in between fighting the tourist crowds!!!
There’re political reasons, why the event is called Paris Summer Olympic Games and not French Summer Olympic Games.Yeah, but… They already have a major venue in Nice for Football. The Paris Olympics are spread across France & the world (surfing is in Tahiti), despite its name. Or they could use the venue infrastructure in Marseille (football & sailing infrastructure). Or Lille Metropole (basketball & handball venues & infrastructure). Or Bordeaux (more football venue & infrastructure0. They have so many better possibilities out there. Or any lake near Paris. This is nutters.
Thank heavens the London Olympics organizers had the brains not to force folks to swim in the Thames. That is epic nasty.
You pointed out to the other locations I wasn’t aware of, thanks.
“we’ll see” 
There is a nice batheable lake in Cergy, NW of Paris. 15 miles from the Eiffel Tower. Moving the event there seems like a no-brainer to me
There is a nice batheable lake in Cergy, NW of Paris. 15 miles from the Eiffel Tower. Moving the event there seems like a no-brainer to me
Hilly area or flat? Imagine how much of a hilly technical bike course (Leeds esq) would throw everyone’s prep and change the dynamics, would be delicious!
Mostly flat area, but they could put a few road bridges in the lap, to spice things up a little
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There is a nice batheable lake in Cergy, NW of Paris. 15 miles from the Eiffel Tower. Moving the event there seems like a no-brainer to meHa, with a better venue so close to Paris, their decision making has escalated from ordinary face palm to an André René Roussimoff face palm.
I share the sentiment, but there are probably a million legal and regulatory intricacies and obstacles involved in planning another “optional” course.
Agreed, but there should be a Plan B.
Agreed, but there should be a Plan B.
100%. They knew how ambitious of a plan this was and to not explore any sort of Plan B is absolutely insane.
I share the sentiment, but there are probably a million legal and regulatory intricacies and obstacles involved in planning another “optional” course.A Plan B at this late stage would certainly be tricky. No, my epic face palm of mega-dumb decision making dates back to 8 years ago, when the Paris Olympic Committee said they would stage the swimming events in the Seine as part of their bid. Nucking Futz.
I share the sentiment, but there are probably a million legal and regulatory intricacies and obstacles involved in planning another “optional” course.A Plan B at this late stage would certainly be tricky. No, my epic face palm of mega-dumb decision making dates back to 8 years ago, when the Paris Olympic Committee said they would stage the swimming events in the Seine as part of their bid. Nucking Futz.
Someone corrects me but I think the same issue happened in Rio 16. The first option was Rodrigo de Freitas lake? but after some time they dismissed the option and sent the race to the ocean.
Agreed, but there should be a Plan B.
100%. They knew how ambitious of a plan this was and to not explore any sort of Plan B is absolutely insane.
They do have a plan B, it’s just a plan that neither of us likes. (To reschedule the event; plan C is to do a duathlon.)
Looks like water quality will be the least of their worries:
https://youtu.be/jnCefPQIH98
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It has rained every day this week and water quality has gone down!!! Just saying.
It has rained every day this week and water quality has gone down!!! Just saying.Can you share where this is reported, ideally with quantitative basis.
Here’s an article which gives excellent detail:
https://www.paris.fr/en/pages/how-does-paris-test-the-seine-s-water-quality-27101
Living in a different french-speaking city with a river, it’s not unusual for the runoff/overflow after a rainfall to affect water quality. It is typically clean enough to swim 48 hours after a very large rainfall (and probably less - that’s the ‘rule of thumb’). That’s the cool thing about rivers: they are not stagnant.
According to a documentary that just popped up on Netflix, there may be a serious worry about sharks during triathlons in Paris. This could really boost the number of spectators.
According to a documentary that just popped up on Netflix, there may be a serious worry about sharks during triathlons in Paris. This could really boost the number of spectators.Worth reading the thread and see @BryanCD’s post #29 on Page 2 (there are images which might alarm).