FINA says green Olympic diving pool is safe

Source:Xinhua Published: 2016/8/11 9:46:54

The Olympic diving pool turned a mysterious shade of green on Tuesday and has not changed back to blue on Wednesday. The world swimming governing body FINA said the pool is safe.

FINA said on a statement Wednesday about the clarification on the diving pool water colour: "FINA can confirm that the reason for the unusual water colour observed during the Rio 2016 diving competitions is that the water tanks ran out some of the chemicals used in the water treatment process. As a result the pH level of the water was outside the usual range, causing the discolouration. The FINA Sport Medicine Committee conducted tests on the water quality and concluded that there was no risk to the health and safety of the athletes, and no reason for the competition to be affected."

Cornel Marculescu, the executive director FINA, also said the water has no effect to the health of athletes. "We always put the health and safety of athletes in the first place," he said. "We tested the water three times today and it is safe."

It seems divers don't care too much about the colour of the water. Chen Ruolin of China, winner of the women's 10m platform synchro, said she was not affected.

Britain's Tom Daley even said the Olympic diving pool being green helps them dive as they "know which way is up".

The 22-year-old diving star said he didn't know why the pool was green and joked that maybe "Shrek has been in the pool".

Mexican star diver Paola Espinosa also said: "We noticed it, but it didn't smell, and nothing is left on our skin, so it didn't really affect us."

Posted in: Olympics

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