World Aquatics Championships: More Postponements for Open Water Events

The open water events of the World Aquatics Championships faced further delays on July 15, 2023, due to unacceptable water quality levels at the Sentosa venue in Singapore. World Aquatics announced that while recent tests showed some improvement in water quality, the results still exceeded “acceptable thresholds.” Consequently, both the men’s and women’s 10km races have been rescheduled to 13:00 and 16:00, respectively, pending satisfactory test results from samples collected on Tuesday evening.

This postponement marks a challenging moment for the Championships, which commenced on July 11 and will continue until August 3. The women’s race was initially set for 08:00 on Tuesday but was delayed just hours before its start after an analysis of samples taken last Sunday indicated that water quality did not meet the necessary standards.

World Aquatics executive director Brent Nowicki reported that elevated levels of E. coli bacteria were the primary reason behind the postponement. While he noted that the source of this contamination has not yet been identified, he emphasized that the organization follows guidelines established by the World Health Organization regarding acceptable limits for water quality.

In a bid to ensure transparency and reliability, World Aquatics outsources its testing to independent agencies. Despite prior tests in the weeks leading up to the event showing results within acceptable limits, the recent findings have raised concerns among organizers and athletes alike.

Sentosa serves as the venue for both high diving and open water swimming events during the Championships. In addition to these sports, the competition includes swimming, water polo, diving, and artistic swimming. This year’s event holds particular significance as it marks the first time a Southeast Asian nation has hosted the World Aquatics Championships.

As the situation develops, World Aquatics remains committed to providing a safe and fair competition environment for all athletes. The organization is expected to release the results of Tuesday evening’s water quality tests early on Wednesday morning, which will determine if the races can proceed as rescheduled.