FINA says that the FINA Sports Medicine Committee conducted tests on the water quality and concluded that “there was no risk to the health and safety of the athletes”, and as such made a decision to proceed with Tuesday’s diving events anyway.
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General view of the Olympic diving pool, left, and the pool for the waterpolo and synchronized swimming, right, Tuesday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Tony Azevedo of United States controls the ball against France during a water polo match on Wednesday.
Instead, he theorized, it could be coming from the water used to fill the pool itself, or, if the chlorine levels aren’t high enough, algae cysts embedded in the walls or bottom of the pool can germinate.
“We noticed it”, Mexico’s Paola Espinosa said.
It’s probable that the green water in the adjacent water polo pool also turned green Wednesday for similar reasons, but officials haven’t revealed the cause of the discoloration.
“This was because of heat and a lack of wind”, he said, per the Independent.
The pool has been tested and declared fit for use, with athletes not reporting any issues despite the grim appearance of the water, reported Wales Online. “Algae spores can be transmitted”. “We are investigating what the cause was”.
The warm and humid climate in Rio de Janeiro could be a factor, too. Some wonder if the pool’s filtration system failed, or struggled to handle the pool’s large capacity.
The pair, who missed out on a medal after an error in their final dive and finished fifth, admitted they could not see each other under the water.
“They put way too much chlorine”, US captain Tony Azevedo said. “Who cares about the green water?”
In a tweet, the Olympic organisers advised: “Everyone stay calm because of the water at the Maria Lenk (Aquatics Center)”.
“Yes, it feels like that, but I don’t know”, Zalanki said between sniffles.
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Team mate Tonia Crouch said it was so green she and partner Lois Toulson could not see beneath the surface.
