The organizers of the Tokyo Summer Olympics may face a very serious problem that could interfere with the competition next year. The waters of Tokyo Bay near the artificial island of Odaiba, where swimming competitions among marathon swimmers and triathletes are to take place, are currently infected with bacteria and dangerous to health.

This was announced on August 17, when triathlon trials were held in Tokyo. On this day, races were to be held among the Paralympic people, but the water part had to be canceled due to the detected E. coli, the concentration of which exceeded the permissible norms.

This decision was made at a meeting of representatives of the organizing committee of the Olympic Games, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the organizers of the competition, as well as technical and medical delegates. They discussed the results of a Friday water test, which showed disappointing results. The races planned for that day had to be held in the duathlon format.

Just the day before, two tests were carried out - morning and afternoon. The first showed a growing concentration of bacteria dangerous for humans, but their number still fit into the standards prescribed in the ITU rules. In the afternoon, the level of E. coli exceeded the permissible norm by half. As a result, it was announced that competitors in the water are too dangerous. At the same time, it has not yet been decided whether the water part of the Sunday relay races will take place. Before the competition, which started on August 15, ITU claimed that water quality was at an acceptable level.

Odaiba Island is located in central Tokyo. The waters around it are greatly affected due to human activities, so the environmental situation in this area can hardly be called favorable. Since the 1960s, all of Tokyo's beaches have been closed due to pollution, but in recent years, Odaiba has been allowed to swim on certain days.

The organizers of the Olympic Games do not hide the fact that the water in which the main competitions of the four-year anniversary will take place can be contaminated and dangerous. Inspections by international sports organizations showed that in short summer periods the Odaiba water area meets all the requirements for swimming. However, when the Pacific Swimming Championship was held in Tokyo last year, 10 km open water races had to be moved from the capital of Japan to Tateyama, which is 70 km to the south.

Last year, the organizing committee of the Olympics said that he was able to make progress in treating water with filters. Its use in July and August, when the competition will be held, showed a decrease in the concentration of bacteria dangerous to humans. However, as recent tests have shown, the problem has remained unresolved.

The problem with dirty water could be solved radically by simply moving the competition to a more environmentally friendly place. For example, on Sidasita Beach, where the surfing debut at the Olympic Games will take place. However, the organizers still hope to keep the races on Odaiba. Firstly, it’s convenient for fans to get to the island, which is located in the very center of Tokyo. Secondly, the waters of the bay are surrounded by skyscrapers and bridges, which create a beautiful picture for television. Thirdly, it is important for the city to demonstrate the fight against pollution and promote the beach in Odaiba as a possible place for outdoor activities after the Olympic Games.

The organizers of the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics have already faced similar problems. Guanabara Bay, where sailing, rowing and swimming competitions were to take place, was heavily polluted with sewage and household waste. Nevertheless, the competitions did not have to be rescheduled, and they passed in accordance with the original plans.