Why Are The Pools At Rio Turning Green? Officials Have Two Different Answers
Can someone please let us know the real reason?
By Tang Ruxyn — 11 Aug 2016, 10:17 AM
On Tuesday, 9 August, the world was alarmed when something rather odd happened to the diving pool at the Rio Olympics. It turned green overnight!
US divers Amy Cozad and Jessica Parratto plunging into the green diving pool.
Image via Michael Dalder/REUTERSThe diving pool was still crystal-clear, Olympic blue just a day earlier.
A day later, another pool's colour changed too. This time, it was the water polo pool.
Now water polo pool is going green next to diving pool. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/AjCJGhk2qR
— Beth Harris (@bethharrisap) August 10, 2016
The Internet came up with various theories, attempting to explain the situation
No-one will give an explanation for the green diving pool. An official statement from Rio2016 is being prepared!!!
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) August 9, 2016
Many suggested that the lack of chlorine in the pool contributed to the eery transformation from blue to green
Many people also believed that the wicked green discolouration was mainly due to algal bloom.
Some even suggested that the kale-coloured water was brought on by corrosion of pipes, releasing copper or iron ions into the water.
Meanwhile, others joked that it could have been urine from the athletes.
In the midst of all these speculations, officials have finally stepped in to clear the air — except that they have given differing explanations
British diver Tom Daley tweeted the image above on Tuesday, 9 August, where the water polo pool (left) was still in pristine condition as compared to to the diving pool.
Image via @TomDaley1994/TwitterA spokesperson from the International Swimming Federation (FINA), the international governing body for aquatics, told The Los Angeles Times that the aquatic centre ran out of some chemicals used in the water treatment process, causing the pool to turn into an unusual colour.
"As a result, the pH level of the water was outside the usual range, causing the discoloration. The FINA Sports 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," the spokesperson said in a statement yesterday, 10 August.
On the other hand, CNN reported that the Rio 2016 Local Organizing Committee blamed the proliferation of algae caused by the heat and lack of wind in the venue that caused the green hue to be seen in the water.
Earlier, it was reported that the Olympic Games organisers couldn't explain the colour change but insisted that the pool posed no risk to athletes.