FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The polluted waters of the Seine River in Paris continue to create chaos and controversy at the Olympic Games.
The latest move comes from Belgium, which decided to withdraw the team in protest from the mixed triathlon relay, which took place yesterday.
The decision was made because the athlete, Claire Michel, who participated a few days ago in the individual competitions, but showed health problems after diving in the river, fell ill.
Michel competed in the women's triathlon last Wednesday, placing 38th. But the 35-year-old Belgian athlete is now ill and has been forced to withdraw from the mixed relay. Belgian media reports that Michel has suffered an "Escherichia coli" infection.
This is the bacteria that continues to invade the waters of the Seine, especially after the recent rains. During the last days there were even rumors about the athlete being hospitalized, but this was denied by the Belgian Olympic Committee. Belgium's withdrawal from the mixed race was also accompanied by a strong message:
" We hope that the lesson will be learned in the future triathlon competitions in the Olympics. It's a circus, and in it the athletes are puppets ", declared Marten Van Riel, Belgian triathlete. On the other hand, the Parisian organizers of the Olympic Games excused themselves: " It is the International Olympic Committee that decides whether to compete in the Seine or not ."
Meanwhile, two Swiss athletes, Adrien Brifford and Simon Westermann, who competed last week, have also developed gastroenteritis problems due to infection with "Escherichia coli".
But unlike Belgium, Switzerland did not withdraw the team. There have been no shortage of harsh comments from politicians on this issue. The Italian Minister of Transport, Mateo Salvini, was not spared in the accusations:
" To end up in the hospital because you swim in a dump is a lack of respect for the athletes, who have sacrificed for months for this race ," said Salvini.
Meanwhile, a test intended to allow Olympic athletes to familiarize themselves with marathon swimming in the Seine River was canceled on Tuesday due to concerns about the quality of the water.
World Aquatics made the decision to cancel the training at an early morning meeting, spokesman Torin Koos said.
Another test is scheduled for Wednesday and organizers will decide early that morning whether to go ahead, Koos said. The women's marathon swim is set for Thursday, while the men are scheduled to compete on Friday.
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