Swimming event at Games venue axed over health fear

Senior reporter

Wednesday 22 August 2012

A MAJOR event at one of the 2014 Commonwealth Games venues has been cancelled amid concerns about water quality and threats to the health of participants.

DIP IN TURNOUT: There will be no repeat of previous years' events.

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GERRY BRAIDEN commonwealth games correspondent

Thousands were scheduled to take part in the Great Scottish Swim at Strathclyde Country Park in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, this weekend, including some competitors who took part in the Olympics.

However, organisers cancelled the event after tests indicated heavy rainfall could push levels of the sickness bug norovirus above safety limits, while a contingency venue was also ruled out over concerns about potentially harmful levels of the bacteria blue green algae.

A triathlon event planned for Sunday at the loch has been curtailed and will only involve running and cycling.The loch had been closed for two months for immersion sports after open-water swimmers contracted illness in an event in June.Although recent tests showed an improvement in the quality of the water, The Herald understands the insurers for organisers Nova International advised against it going ahead.A water quality survey order by North Lanarkshire Council, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and Health Protection Scotland found rainfall could push the "levels of bacteria above the safe limit resulting in putting the health of swimmers at risk".The concerns centred on the weather boosting the levels of the norovirus in the water. Those hit with the bug at a swim in June suffered symptoms including gastroenteritis, abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea.The Great Scottish Swim, which was established in 2009, was cancelled in 2010 because of unacceptable levels of bacteria blue green algae in the loch.However, the council said dozens of open-swim events had been held at the loch over the years with no problems, adding that the weather would have led to similar problems at most Scottish lochs.The organisers of the 2014 Games said no decisions on its plans to use Strathclyde Park as the triathlon venue would be made until the middle of next year, adding that contingency plans were being developed.The 2012 Great Scottish Swim would have seen entrants swim in the Strathclyde Park loch over half-a-mile, one mile or two miles.Alex Jackson, event director of the Great Swim Series, said: "Making the call to cancel the Great Scottish Swim has been extremely difficult, but the safety of our swimmers and their families remains our main priority. "The strict guidelines that are in place mean, for us, there is an unacceptable level of risk."We had hoped to find an alternative venue, and extensive research was done to this end."An event of this size requires considerable infrastructure which immediately discounted some very good options."We had identified a promising location with full operational plans in place, but unfortunately, as of Sunday, water quality here has deteriorated also, and it is no longer suitable."We appreciate the inconvenience and disappointment a cancellation will cause, and all swimmers will be offered a full refund on their entry fee."A North Lanarkshire Council spokeswoman said: "We are disappointed the Great Scottish Swim has been cancelled."However, we appreciate the concerns of the organisers, and agree participant health is the paramount concern. "Our latest test results show a marked improvement to water quality, but it is possible the weekend's weather conditions could have an adverse effect."We will make every effort at all times to provide up-to-the- minute information about water condition and sports available on the loch through our website and local media." A Glasgow 2014 spokeswoman said: "As is regular practice at this stage in the delivery of a multi-sports, multi-venue games, the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee continues to develop the detail of operational venue plans through experts in a range of disciplines."As part of this process we are developing contingency plans to mitigate against risks and issues."

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Swimming event at Games venue axed over health fear

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