Rio spokesman Mario Andrada said he believed that a “proliferation of algae” had been to blame at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center, while global diving chiefs claimed to be unaware what had created the problem.
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Swimming’s governing body FINA has also addressed the discolouration and released a statement confirming that tests have proven the water poses no health risks to the athletes.
According to FINA, the waters transformed to green from blue due to the depletion of several water treatment chemicals in the tank, causing athletes difficulties to locate their partners after a dive.
Despite the discoloration, event organizers said that the water was completely safe to swim in.
There’s something in the water at the Rio Olympics: Yet another pool has deep, bright green.
“We expect the colour to be back to blue very shortly”. Some suggested that the green came from oxidized copper in the pool’s pipes, but others wondered whether urine was the culprit. It’s because of a “proliferation of algae”, a spokesman told the Associated Press, that resulted because of a lack of heat and wind at the venue.
“Today’s rain has affected that a bit, but we are testing the water quality regularly”.
Speaking on Tuesday, Great Britain’s 10m synchronised diving bronze medallist Tom Daley described the situation as “slightly strange”. “But I’m not sure what that means”.
“We noticed it”, Mexico’s Paola Espinosa said. But if the water gets any darker, it could become hard for water polo referees to see what’s going on under the surface – leading to more physical play.
Alex Patlashenko, owner of Toronto pool maintenance company Swim Clean Pool Service, says green water is most often caused by algae.
One USA water polo Olympian said he wasn’t anxious about the color. “We brought in a team of independent experts to check”.
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Malaysia’s Cheong Jun Hoong and Pandelela Rinong, bottom, compete during the women’s synchronized 10-meter platform diving final in the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
