RIO DE JANEIRO – There’s something in the water at the Rio Olympics: Yet another pool has deep, bright green.
This time, it’s the water polo pool.
On Tuesday, when the diving pool at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre mysteriously changed colors, Olympic organizers, and FINA — swimming’s international governing body — offered competing explanations why.
On Wednesday, the water polo pool at the center also went green.
Swimming pools, in case anyone is unclear, are supposed to be a tranquil shade of azure.
Ermmm…what happened?! pic.twitter.com/pdta7EpP2k
— Tom Daley (@TomDaley1994) August 9, 2016
So, what is going on?
There are now so many explanations.
A change in alkalinity:
Mario Andrada, the communication director for the Rio 2016 local organizing committee, says a sudden change in alkalinity is the culprit.
“We expect the color to be back to blue soon,” Andrada said, adding there is “absolutely no risk to the athletes or anybody.”
An algae bloom:
Nope, the green tone seen was due to a proliferation of algae, the organizing body said. The algae bloomed because of heat and lack of wind, it said.
Poor organization:
Nope, says, FINA, the blames lies with the organizers. FINA claims water tanks “ran out some of the chemicals used in the water treatment process.” It made no mention of wind or heat.
The Internet dives in
It didn’t take long for the Internet to offer up its own imaginative take on the green shade.
Just waiting for Shrek to come out of the swamp that is the Rio diving pool!#Rio2016 #diving #GreenPool #BBCRio2016 pic.twitter.com/EzMsohFBzJ
— Grant Rivers (@SnowAndBeach) August 9, 2016
It's not easy being green… #greenpool #RioOlympics2016 pic.twitter.com/cDy3SnYQAW
— Lucy Knight (@lucymk) August 9, 2016
#greenpool #Rio2016 Meanwhile at the diving pool pic.twitter.com/TQuMI6MvsG
— Marc Smith (@iamnotmiserable) August 10, 2016
Commenters joked that it was nice of Shrek to loan his swamp to the Olympics, while others shared pictures of Kermit the frog and swamp monsters.