Persistent Rain Postpones Skateboarding, Delays Tennis at Paris Olympics

Rainfall that began during the opening ceremony persisted on Saturday, causing delays and postponements at the Paris Olympics. The men's street skateboarding event, initially set for Saturday, was rescheduled to Monday due to the showers. The women's event remains scheduled for Sunday.

The skateboarding competitions are held at La Concorde Urban Park in Paris. World Skate, the sport's governing body, cited adverse weather conditions as the reason for the postponement. Rain has been a significant factor early in the Games, with constant showers and occasional downpours marking the opening ceremony.

Impact on Tennis Matches

Rain also delayed the start of tennis matches on the 10 smaller courts at Roland Garros. However, matches in the two main stadiums, which have retractable roofs, proceeded as planned. This included a match on Court Philippe Chatrier featuring No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland against Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania.

As of 10 a.m. CEST (4 a.m. ET), much of the rain had cleared from the area. Despite this, the wet conditions continued to affect various events across the city.

Challenges in Cycling Events

The men's and women's time trials that kicked off the Olympic cycling program went ahead as scheduled from Les Invalides. However, rain made Paris streets treacherous, causing several top riders to crash during both races.

Among those affected was Chloe Dygert, reigning world champion from the U.S., who crashed hard while navigating a left-hand turn but managed to remount her bike and finish third. She was seen nursing her left leg at the finish line.

"I love these conditions," Dygert stated. "I just think it depends on the roads and where we are. Paris and Italy and Spain, they are all known for their icy slick roads. It's just how it goes."

Weather Forecast and Future Events

Sunny skies are expected to return on Sunday, but the recent rain could have lasting effects on the Games. The water quality in the Seine might be compromised for swimming events when the triathlon begins on Tuesday.

Tony Estanguet, head of Paris 2024 organizers, addressed this concern at a daily press briefing. "We are still looking at the forecast for the coming days," Estanguet said. "They expect that it will rain till 5 p.m. today and then it should be fine."

"The team is very confident that it will be possible to have the triathlon swimming part in the Seine," he added.

The triathlon starts with the men's event on Tuesday, with swimming beginning at 8 a.m. CEST (2 a.m. ET) near Alexander III bridge next to Grand Palais.

The persistent rain has already caused significant disruptions and could continue to impact various events throughout the Paris Olympics.