Bizarre, Diving Pool Turns Green at RIO Olympics

Tom Daley, the British diver, shared an image on Twitter on Tuesday that showed a diving pool to be a definite shade of green ,particularly in comparison to the pristine water polo pool on the left.“Ermmm…what happened?!” tweeted the bronze medalist. On just Monday, the two pools had been the same azure shade, prompting speculation on social media – and at the games – over what could have happened overnight. Green pool does not bother Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson at Rio 2016.The mystery overshadowed coverage of the women’s synchronised diving finals at the aquatics centre on Tuesday, with the Guardian’s Owen Gibson reporting from Rio that the cause of the change was not known but there was no risk to athletes. Rio 2016 say they’ve tested the water and there’s no risk to athlete health. They’re investigating further. That is all.
Britain’s Tonia Couch told Gibson that the pool appeared to turn an ever-darker hue the longer the 10m platform final went on, and prevented her from seeing her partner, Lois Toulson, underwater. A spokesman for the Rio 2016 organizers said water tests had been conducted and there was found to be “no risk whatsoever” to athletes, though the cause of the colour change was still being investigated. An official statement on the cause for the colour change is understood to be being prepared by the organizing committee for imminent release.
But organizers’ assurances were not enough to put to rest the speculation that abounded on social media, amidst persistent concerns for the athletes’ safety. Dan Walker, a presenter for BBC Sport, ran a Twitter poll to gauge his followers’ thoughts on an explanation for the change in color. An overabundance of algae – often indicated by cloudy green water – was thought the most likely culprit in the highly unscientific poll of 3,690.
It was considered more probable than the suggestion that the pool had been dyed to match the green of one half of the Brazilian flag. “Maybe they just wanted to match the colour scheme? And on the bright side, at least it’s not yellow!” tweeted another user. Guidelines from Jim’s Pool Care – a mobile pool servicing franchise based in the home of clear blue water, Australia, that specializes in “green pool recovery” – advised that a build-up of algae and contaminants can cause a change in color.