BTN News: The 2024 Paris Olympics are filled with excitement as Simone Biles, a superstar in gymnastics, gets ready to compete for her first gold medal. Biles, known as the greatest gymnast ever, will appear in the team event at Arena Bercy. This event is important for Biles, who wants to win back her Olympic glory after the difficulties she faced in Tokyo 2020. The event is set for a very hot Tuesday, but it is also a day of disappointment because the men’s triathlon has been delayed due to pollution in the Seine River.
Just three hours before it was supposed to start, the triathlon had to be rescheduled. Heavy rains over the weekend made the Seine’s water quality bad, raising health concerns for the athletes. The Paris 2024 organizing committee and the International Triathlon Union said that the latest water quality tests showed that some parts of the swimming course had unsafe levels of bacteria. So, the men’s triathlon is now moved to Wednesday, with the women’s event happening first. If the water quality does not get better, the events might be delayed even further, possibly to Friday.
The delay is a big challenge for the Paris 2024 organizers because the triathlon is the first Olympic event planned to take place in the Seine. This change has also raised worries about the upcoming open water swimming events set for the second week of the Games. Training sessions in the Seine, which were supposed to happen on Sunday and Monday, were already canceled because of the pollution, creating more concerns about future events.
This delay is happening during a heatwave in Paris, with temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius. The French weather agency has issued warnings for the capital and nearby areas. Interestingly, the high temperatures might help reduce the bacteria levels in the river, which could improve the water quality for the rescheduled events.
While the triathlon is facing delays, the surfing competition in Teahupo’o, French Polynesia, is going well. Brazilian surfers Gabriel Medina and João Chianca, along with Peruvian Alonso Correa, have made it to the quarterfinals, showing their skills in the ocean waves.
Simone Biles’ return to the Olympics is a major highlight of the Games. At 27 years old, Biles aims to win her first Olympic gold since the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Her performance in Tokyo was affected by mental health issues, but she now comes to Paris with new determination. Biles qualified for five out of six finals, showing her strength and talent, even though she has a left calf injury. With Russia, the reigning champions, not participating, the main competition for the U.S. team comes from Italy, China, and Brazil, led by Rebeca Andrade.
Another big return to the Olympics is Rafael Nadal. The tennis legend, who just lost to Novak Djokovic, plans to play doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, hoping to reach the quarterfinals. Nadal has won Olympic gold in both singles and doubles and hinted at making important decisions about his career after the Olympics, adding more interest to his participation.
The men’s football tournament is also at a crucial point, with many teams fighting for spots in the quarterfinals. Spain has already secured their place, but Argentina and France must win their matches against Ukraine and New Zealand to move forward. These important games will decide the fate of some of the tournament’s top teams.
In summary, the Paris 2024 Olympics are full of both success and challenges. Simone Biles’ quest for gold, the rescheduling of the triathlon, and the intense heatwave all contribute to the lively atmosphere of the Games. As athletes face these challenges, the spirit of competition and determination shines brightly, showing the true meaning of the Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger.”
