Before the Olympics, fans were anxious about the state of the waters surrounding Rio de Janeiro.
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But there are multiple explanations, which include algae, green disinfectant or a potential colour caused by the way the water is interacting with copper in the heating system.
Turned green: The blue of the water polo pool contrasts markedly with the green of the diving pool.
Pictures and reports were surfacing – at about the same time as FINA’s statement – of the water apparently starting to turn green over at the water polo pool, which is next to the diving pool.
The men’s 3m synchronised springboard event takes place at the pool this evening, so it will be interesting to see what colour the water is on day five.
Olympic officials have said that although they don’t know what has caused the water to go green, it is nothing to worry about and will be fixed soon.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
“It’s the heat and the sun and everything, combined with those pH levels rising”, he said.
The diving pool is kept warmer than the swimming pool, and that combined with the bright Rio sunshine leads to the evaporation of chlorine, Daily Mail notes. At first, Rio officials said they were not sure of the reason. “We did test the water using the same parameters we do every day, and the results were exactly the same as we got when the pool was blue”.
There have been many issues surrounding the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, but so far, we’re 4 days in and things have gone off rather smoothly… until tonight.
Having said that, the Olympic Swimming Pool at the other end of the Aquatics Center was the normal shade of blue.
– Andrew Cropper (@andrew_cropper) August 9, 2016So the #Rio2016 #diving pool is suddenly green and literally no one knows why.
Among the many to be perplexed by the event is British diver Tom Daley, who won a bronze. It’s not really unsafe.
Chen Ruolin, who teamed to win gold with Liu Huixia, said it didn’t affect them.
“Everybody was scratching their heads going, ‘What’s going on?'” Mitch Geller said.
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Tonia Couch couldn’t see her partner Lois Toulson underwater because of the green colour. “I hope it’s not a swamp”.
