Journalist Beth Harris shared a photo of the second pool on Twitter, writing: “Now water polo pool is going green next to diving pool”.
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In a statement to the media today, Rio 2016 Local Organizing Committee confirmed the shift in water colour was the result of heat and lack of wind triggering a rapid growth of algae.
Correction – August 10, 2016: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said the diving pool was an indoor pool.
The good news, however, is there is no health risk to the athletes with this Jell-O-like color in the pool now.
According to FINA, the worldwide governing body for the sport, the pH level in the pool dropped as some of the chemicals in the water treatment process ran out. “The pH level of the water was outside the usual range, causing the discoloration”, the statement said.
The water polo pool, which had been aqua blue the day before, turned a greenish hue ahead of Australia’s match on Thursday.
As you probably know, pool water is supposed to look clear.
“If it were green and yellow, we would know it was a patriotic thing”, Andrada joked, referring to Brazil’s national colors.
“We expect the colour to be back to blue very shortly”.
The water is of no harm to Olympians and will be treated.
According to The Washington Post, they’ve already started treating the water in hopes it will be as good as new ASAP – but it appears that whatever treatment they’ve used has caused a whole new host of problems for athletes. Thus far, divers who swam in the water haven’t seemed to complain about any after effects, but it’s worth watching in light of Geller’s comments.
It’s not easy being green, whether you’re Kermit the frog or an Olympics diving pool.
Test events for diving were shorter and with fewer athletes.
But no fear, we’ve found out why the water turned such an alarming shade – and no it wasn’t because someone used it as a toilet. “I don’t know what they have down there in Rio”, said Henderson, “but any new commercial system, at least here in the US, is completely automated”.
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A green contagion has reared itself at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre. We don’t think it is unsafe or we wouldn’t have our athletes in the water.
