FINA also offered an explanation for the odd discoloration at the diving pool, but no word yet on the change of color in the water polo pool.
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Officials said algae is to blame for water in the Rio Olympics diving pool that turned from a crystal blue to a murky green overnight. No one here can.
“I could barely open my eyes for the final quarter”, said USA competitor Tony Azevedo, after defeating France on Wednesday. He conceded that some athletes were bothered by the water, but said that was a result of efforts to get the water clean.
The global swimming body FINA said water tanks at the pool ran out of some chemicals used in the treatment process.
The pool turned green on Tuesday, becoming the subject of numerous jokes and creating a headache for organizers.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk.
On Friday, Rio officials reportedly closed the pool following complaints that the entire facility “smelled like a fart”.
Water quality has been a major issue surrounding the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, but in the ocean and lagoons, not the pools. “But we came here with a mind-set of ‘expect the unexpected.’ If the water was going to be orange, blue, green – it didn’t matter”.
“Water tests at Maria Lenk Aquatic Park were conducted and there was found to be no risk to athlete’s health”, officials told the BBC’s Nick Hope.
“This was because our first reaction to the water turning green was to use more chemicals”, Andrada said.
Rio spokesman Mario Andrada stressed during a press conference Wednesday that the pool’s pH and chlorine levels were within the required standards and that both pools were treated during the night, with alkaline levels improving.
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The diving well was shut down when athletes arrived for morning warmups, though it did finally open at 1 p.m. local time – just 2 1/2 hours before the start of the women’s 3-meter individual event. They continually reiterated that there was no risk health to the athletes.
