Concerns bay stinks like toilet

FORGET the heat, it’s Stinky Bay causing the most unease for our Olympic open-water swimmers and triathletes after concerns were raised about the water quality in Tokyo Bay.

A foul odour has been reported at the swimming venue for triathletes and open-water swimmers, raising concerns about elevated levels of the dangerous E-coli bacteria.

Heavy rain is forecast in Tokyo from July 27, which raises the risk of sewerage leakage into the bay.

Australian Triathlon team leader Justin Drew said Australia would continue to monitor the water quality in the lead-up to the first day of competition on Monday through twice-daily tests at different sample points.

“We are confident in the measures put in place by (the Tokyo organising committee), including the installation of a triple filter screening system for this year as opposed to a single filter used last year for the test event,” Drew said.

“There are daily checks of water quality and water temperatures and TOCOG has plans in place to address any issues surrounding the water in the build-up to competition days.

“We are a week out from the men’s race and those measures have been put in place. We will continue to monitor and be provided with regular daily checks on the water.

“These challenges are part of putting on races in a big city. We are just going to get on with preparing to compete. The Australian triathlon team has also prepared its own strategies.”

This week, local residents complained to Japanese media that the bay smelled like a toilet, fuelling concerns of elevated levels of the dangerous Ecoli bacteria found in sewerage.

The swim leg of the triathlon and the marathon swim are being held at the Odaiba Marine Park, an urban beach in the heart of Tokyo, which has previously been the subject of complaints about water quality.

In 2019, the swim leg of the Paratriathlon World Cup was abandoned due to elevated levels of E-coli at the Odaiba Marine Park.