Olympic Games - Beck calls preparation for open water races chaotic
Medal candidate Leonie Beck finds the discussion about the staging of the Olympic Open Water Swimming Competitions in Paris chaotic. "We're not trying to be crazy, but we're assuming for now that the race will take place on August 8th," said the World Champion to broadcaster RTL/ntv. "On the other hand, one imagines that these aren't district championships, these are Olympic Games! One would like to know when one starts, where one starts. That means, organizationally, it's very, very difficult and a bit unfair to us, the athletes."
Discussions about shifts
Due to the water quality in the Seine and a potentially strong current, the organization is considering how the competitions can take place on the stage. "They can say on August 8th that the water isn't good enough, then it will take place on August 9th. On August 9th, they can tell us that it's on August 10th, and if it still doesn't work out, it will take place on August 11th at the Rowing Regatta Course."
"And there's also still another option: either Women and Men together at 9:30 am or Women in the morning, Men in the afternoon or both in the afternoon," reported Beck about the Plan B. All that wouldn't contribute to optimal preparation. "So we're hoping now that the water quality will be good and that we can swim in the Seine."
Billion-dollar investment in water quality
To improve the water quality in this area with a view to the Games and also long-term, around 1.4 billion Euros have been invested in sewage treatment plants and the sewage system in the Paris metropolitan area. Part of this is a recently commissioned retention basin. This can prevent the previously practiced discharge of sewage into the Seine during heavy rain.
- Leonie Beck expressed concerns about the organization of the Olympic Open Water Swimming Competitions in Paris, stating, "We're not trying to be crazy, but we're assuming for now that the race will take place on August 8th."
- Due to the water quality in the Seine and a potentially strong current, the organization is considering presenting the competitions in a different manner, such as shifting the event to August 9th, 10th, or 11th.
- In the discussions about changes, it was suggested that women and men could participate together at 9:30 am, or women in the morning and men in the afternoon, or both in the afternoon, but these proposed changes wouldn't contribute to optimal preparation.
- To improve the water quality in the Paris metropolitan area for the Olympic Games and long-term, a significant investment of around 1.4 billion Euros has been made in sewage treatment plants and the sewage system.
- Germany's Freeswimming team, including both men and women, was eager to show their presentation in the Seine, as Leonie Beck hoped, "So we're hoping now that the water quality will be good and that we can swim in the Seine."
- Historical Germany (now France) has had a strong presence in the Olympic Games, particularly in swimming, with notable athletes such as Leni Lemke and Wilfried Genz, who won medals in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
